Florida Cop From N. Massapequa Shot to Death

By Sherri Lonon

North Massapequa native Charles “Charlie” Kondek served as a NYPD officer for about five years before joining the Tarpon Springs force in Florida more than 17 years ago.

His life came to an abrupt end Sunday when he responded to a noise complaint call around 2 a.m. Kondek was standing outside of his cruiser when he was shot, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

While Kondek was transported to Florida Hospital North Pinellas for treatment, he succumbed to his injuries, the sheriff’s office stated in an email to media.

Deputies say they’ve charged Marco Antonio Parilla Jr., 23, with first-degree murder in the case. Parilla is described as a transient.

The incident began to unfold when deputies say Parilla and a female companion arrived at the apartment complex. The woman stayed in the car, but Parilla started knocking on multiple doors looking for someone he said “dimed him out” in regard to a violation of probation.

As Parilla knocked on doors, the female in the car was asked by a resident to turn the radio down, but refused. Deputies say that’s when the 911 noise complaint call was issued, bringing Kondek to the scene.

When Kondek arrived and got out of his car, deputies say Parilla walked towards him and opened fire. Kondek returned fire before falling to the ground.

Parilla, an email from the sheriff’s office stated, then ordered the woman out of the car and fled the scene, running over Kondek as he did. This occurred as another person who lived at the Grand Boulevard address opened fire on Parilla, the email said. That shooter thought Parilla was looking for him.

Tarpon Springs Police pursued the fleeing car, which ended up crashing into a pole and a parked vehicle at Athens and Cross streets.

After the crash, deputies said, Parilla got out of the car and tried to run on foot. Police caught up with him shortly after that.

After the shooting, the Tarpon Springs Police Department issued the following statement:

With grieving hearts, the Tarpon Springs Police Department is saddened to announce the loss of Officer Charles Kondek. Officer Kondek served the City of Tarpon Springs as a sworn law enforcement officer for over 17 years, many of which were on the midnight shift. Originally from New York, he had previously served for over 5 years as a NYPD officer before moving to Florida.

Kondek, 45, leaves behind a wife, Teresa, and six children, Aleena, Brandon, Andrew, Charlie Jr., Holly and Tiffany. Kondek was raised in North Massapequa and attended Plainedge High School, Newsday reported.

Parilla was being held at the Pinellas County Jail Sunday evening without bond.

The shooting comes one day after two NYPD officers were shot and killed by a man police say was angered over the police-involved deaths of Eric Garner in New York and Michael Brown in Missouri.

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Photo of Officer Charles Kondek courtesy of the Tarpon Springs Police Department. Photo of Marco Antonio Parilla from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

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