Grand jury to decide if service station attendant, alleged robber face
charges
by Deborah Gates
Daily Times Staff Writer
SALISBURY -- Ernie Cordiero peers into the night for demons lurking in
the darkness. His memory of being ambushed outside Grant's Texaco keeps
him on edge.
Cordiero was a Prince George's County police officer for 14 years but
never shot anyone until July 2 in Salisbury. On that night, the
69-year-old gas station attendant pulled the trigger of a 32-caliber
Smith and Wesson and shot an alleged robber in the head.
"I remember it vividly. These things take time," Cordiero said this
week. "I'm looking in the shadows for any movement. It is a bit of a
frustration."
Now, a grand jury convening in September must decide who should be
charged. Cordiero, an attendant on the night shift at the gas station on
Truitt Street, says he was attacked at closing time. His alleged
assailant, Wilford Lorenzo Leonard, a 28-year-old Wicomico County
resident who has had other scrapes with the law, is still recovering
from his wounds. Leonard has yet to speak with police.
"We've got a report for the September grand jury," Wicomico County
Assistant State's
Attorney Sam Vincent said Monday. Vincent said Leonard has a record of
previous convictions, but no warrant has been issued for his arrest in
connection with the gas station shooting. "He's been through the court
system," he said. "We need to wait and see his situation from a medical
standpoint. He's in the hospital and is no threat."
Cordiero's possession of a handgun also will be an issue for the grand
jury, Vincent said. "I didn't say he did not have a right to defend
himself, but there could be a possible handgun charge," he said. "I
can't see that he's cleared. I don't know all the facts."
Leonard was moved recently to a rehabilitation facility on the western
shore after spending nearly two months in critical condition at the
University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Salisbury
Police Capt. Mark Tyler said Monday.
An arrest warrant has not been issued for Leonard, who was in critical
condition and a coma, Tyler said. He would not comment Monday on
Leonard's current condition or where he is undergoing medical treatment.
Any charges will depend on the grand jury's review of evidence and
testimony from police and witnesses, he said. "The grand jury will
decide who is charged, if anyone," Tyler said. "With cases of this
magnitude, when there is a possible questionable shooting, they
generally go to the grand jury. We are ready to go forward."
Cordiero told police the suspect slammed him with a body block as he
closed the gas station at about 10:30 p.m. As Leonard rushed toward him
a second time, Cordiero said he took a gun from his pocket and fired. "I
always (said) as a police officer, I'm going home to my family,"
Cordiero said.
http://www.delmarvanow.com/news/stories/20030827/localnews/135637.html
charges
by Deborah Gates
Daily Times Staff Writer
SALISBURY -- Ernie Cordiero peers into the night for demons lurking in
the darkness. His memory of being ambushed outside Grant's Texaco keeps
him on edge.
Cordiero was a Prince George's County police officer for 14 years but
never shot anyone until July 2 in Salisbury. On that night, the
69-year-old gas station attendant pulled the trigger of a 32-caliber
Smith and Wesson and shot an alleged robber in the head.
"I remember it vividly. These things take time," Cordiero said this
week. "I'm looking in the shadows for any movement. It is a bit of a
frustration."
Now, a grand jury convening in September must decide who should be
charged. Cordiero, an attendant on the night shift at the gas station on
Truitt Street, says he was attacked at closing time. His alleged
assailant, Wilford Lorenzo Leonard, a 28-year-old Wicomico County
resident who has had other scrapes with the law, is still recovering
from his wounds. Leonard has yet to speak with police.
"We've got a report for the September grand jury," Wicomico County
Assistant State's
Attorney Sam Vincent said Monday. Vincent said Leonard has a record of
previous convictions, but no warrant has been issued for his arrest in
connection with the gas station shooting. "He's been through the court
system," he said. "We need to wait and see his situation from a medical
standpoint. He's in the hospital and is no threat."
Cordiero's possession of a handgun also will be an issue for the grand
jury, Vincent said. "I didn't say he did not have a right to defend
himself, but there could be a possible handgun charge," he said. "I
can't see that he's cleared. I don't know all the facts."
Leonard was moved recently to a rehabilitation facility on the western
shore after spending nearly two months in critical condition at the
University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Salisbury
Police Capt. Mark Tyler said Monday.
An arrest warrant has not been issued for Leonard, who was in critical
condition and a coma, Tyler said. He would not comment Monday on
Leonard's current condition or where he is undergoing medical treatment.
Any charges will depend on the grand jury's review of evidence and
testimony from police and witnesses, he said. "The grand jury will
decide who is charged, if anyone," Tyler said. "With cases of this
magnitude, when there is a possible questionable shooting, they
generally go to the grand jury. We are ready to go forward."
Cordiero told police the suspect slammed him with a body block as he
closed the gas station at about 10:30 p.m. As Leonard rushed toward him
a second time, Cordiero said he took a gun from his pocket and fired. "I
always (said) as a police officer, I'm going home to my family,"
Cordiero said.
http://www.delmarvanow.com/news/stories/20030827/localnews/135637.html