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June 12, 2006

Carpio update: Detective tells of scene at police HQ / Photo

Journal photo / Andrew Dickerman
Detective Timothy C. McGann, testifying during the trial of Esteban Carpio, describes the events that led to the death of Detective Sgt. James Allen.

PROVIDENCE -- A Providence police detective testifying this morning in the murder trial of Esteban Carpio told jurors how he frantically tried getting back into an interview room to help fellow detective Sgt. James Allen on the night he was killed.

Detective Timothy McGann told the jurors in Providence Superior Court that he had been in the room with Allen and Carpio but left to get Carpio water at Carpio's request.

McGann heard the door slam shut behind him, discovered that it was locked from inside and tried twice to force it open by running into the door and slamming into it with his body.

From inside the room, McGann heard Allen calling for help, the sounds of "people crashing into walls," and gunshots.

"Jimmy's yelling for help," McGann said. "I was in a frantic state trying to get into the room."

McGann heard more shots. He and another detective yelled to Allen and Carpio. It took three hits with a metal sledge hammer to finally open the door.

Inside, McGann saw a room in disarray and his fellow detective dead on the floor.

-- Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

Posted by Kate Bramson  at 2:09 PM | Permalink

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