Off-duty cop showing off gun kills man

NEW ROCHELLE (WABC) -- An off-duty police officer in Westchester County is facing charges after a deadly shooting.

The incident happened in New Rochelle Tuesday night. Police say James Pileggi, of Eastchester, was pointing and waving a gun around in a car while parked in a driveway on Albert Place. Then, the gun went off.

Following his mother and hiding underneath his suit jacket, Pileggi walked out of New Rochelle City Court disgraced, ashamed and accused.

Prosecutors charged the 29-year-old Eastchester police officer with second-degree manslaughter after he fatally shot his friend, Andre Everett, in the neck Tuesday night outside the victim's home.

"The three that were in the vehicle had been riding around, and Mr. Everett was also an acquaintance of theirs, and they had stopped by to say hello to him," police Captain Joseph Schaller said. "They were engaged in conversation with them at the time."

"You can drive a car in a negligent way," Pileggi's attorney, Angelo McDonald, said. "Sometimes accidents happen and it's purely just an accident."

Pileggi was released after posting $50,000 bail. He spent five years with the Mount Vernon Police Department before coming to Eastchester two years ago. The police chief suspended Pileggi with pay.

Everett's neighbors, meantime, are stunned. Dick and Elizabeth Creaturo knew the 27-year-old his whole life.

"He was extremely respectful," Dick said. "He always came by this way and whenever he came by he would say hello, how are you. He was always that type of kid."

"It's just a waste of a life," Elizabeth said. "A ridiculous waste of a life. That's all I can say."

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WEB PRODUCED BY: Bill King

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