The Tarpon Springs Police Department identified the suspect who fatally shot 45-year-old Charles Kondek as fugitive transient Marco Antonio Parilla Jr, 23. He is now jailed on first-degree murder charges in connection to Kondek's death.
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Sunday, December 21, 2014, 8:26 AM
Updated: Sunday, December 21, 2014, 9:52 PM
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MONICA HERNDON/APFlowers are placed on a police car near the scene of the shooting of Officer Charles Kondek in Tarpon Springs, Fla., on Sunday. Kondek, a former NYPD cop, was shot and killed responding to a call shortly after 2 a.m.
A police officer in Tarpon Springs, Fla. — a former NYPD cop — was shot and killed by a wanted man while responding to a noise complaint.
The officer, Charles Kondek, 45, was a 17-year veteran of the local police department and a married father of six, the Tarpon Springs Police Department said.
The shooter has been identified as 23-year-old Marco Antonio Parilla Jr., a transient and fugitive wanted for a parole violation.
The shooting happened at 2 a.m. Sunday in Tarpon Springs — approximately 28 miles outside Tampa — after Kondek arrived at the apartment complex where the noise nuisance had been reported.
Kondek found Parilla — a former resident of the apartments — confronting a neighbor who reportedly “dimed him out” to the cops.
Parilla had been packing a .40 caliber handgun in his waistline when Kondek spooked the perp, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said at a press conference.
TARPON SPRINGS POLICE DEPT.
Charles Kondek, 45, was fatally shot early morning Sunday. Police say Kondek was a former NYPD cop.
Marco Antonio Parilla Jr., 23, was charged with first-degree murder for allegedly killing Kondek.
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD/APMarco Parilla Jr. is shown being escorted by correctional officers during his perp walk on Sunday morning.
He then opened fire, striking Kondex once above his bullet-proof vest before stealing a white Hyundai sedan from victim Evelyn Desiree Santiago.
Gualtieri said Parilla shot Kondek because "he felt like a caged rat” and did not want to return to prison.
Parilla ran the wounded cop over as he whipped out of the apartment’s driveway in reverse. He then lost control of the vehicle and smashed into a power pole and pickup truck.
That's where back up cops apprehended Parilla. The suspect suffered no injuries from the crash except for scratches from the car’s deployed airbag.
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“We know we have the right guy in custody,” Gualtieri said. “This guy knew what he was doing. He killed a cop and he needs to be held accountable for that.”
As Parilla tried to flee, another resident from the apartments came out and began shooting at the fleeting car believing Parilla had gone there to kill him, Gualtieri added.
There is now a warrant for that resident's arrest.
Kondek was transported to Florida Hospital North Pinellas to receive medical treatment, but was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Parilla was charged with first-degree murder and booked at the Pinellas County Jail.
"I apologize to the family," Parilla said during his perp walk. "It was not my intention."
Parilla had already been arrested five times, according to WFTS Tampa Bay. Records from the Department of Corrections showed that Parilla had been charged and convicted of possession and delivery of a controlled substance, possession and delivery of cocaine, dealing with stolen property, trafficking in drugs and leaving scene of a crash with injury.
The incident occurred one day aftertwo cops were killed in New York City. NYPD Officers Rafael Ramos, 40, and Wenjian Liu, 32 were killed in Brooklyn on Saturday.
Kondek's family has not yet spoken on the tragedy.
