David Laffer
Pharmacy Robbery Mass Shooting
CLASSIFICATION: Mass Murder
LOCATION
Medford, New York
TIME PERIOD
June 19, 2011
VICTIMS
4 confirmed
On June 19, 2011, a mass shooting occurred at Haven Drugs pharmacy in Medford, New York, resulting in the deaths of four individuals during a robbery executed by David Saul Laffer, who was motivated by drug addiction and financial desperation. Laffer entered the pharmacy armed with a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, fatally shooting employees Jennifer Meija, Raymond Ferguson, and customers Bryon Sheffield and Jamie Taccetta. Following the incident, Laffer was apprehended and subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, while his wife received a 25-year sentence. Investigations revealed Laffer and his wife had a history of opioid addiction and had visited an illegal pharmacy prior to the shooting; additionally, the operator of that pharmacy, Stan Xuhui Li, was later sentenced for his role in a pill mill operation linked to overdose deaths.
Many believe that David Saul Laffer's actions were driven by desperation stemming from his opioid addiction and financial instability after losing his job. Some speculate that his wife's involvement indicates a shared motive, as both were struggling with addiction at the time of the robbery. Additionally, the connection to a doctor running a pill mill raises questions about the broader implications of prescription drug abuse and its role in fueling violent crime.
The 2011 Medford Pharmacy Shooting: A Gripping Tale of Desperation and Tragedy
The Crime Unfolds
On a seemingly ordinary Sunday, June 19, 2011, the quiet town of Medford, New York, was rocked by a chilling and violent crime that would leave an indelible mark on its community. The scene was Haven Drugs, a local pharmacy located at coordinates 40°48′04″N 73°00′13″W. David Saul Laffer, driven by desperation and addiction, transformed this small-town pharmacy into a site of unthinkable horror.
Laffer, armed with a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, entered Haven Drugs with a concealed weapon inside his backpack. His mission: to secure a stash of painkillers. As he approached the counter, 17-year-old employee Jennifer Meija and 45-year-old Raymond Ferguson, another employee, were the first to encounter the impending danger. Laffer requested a private conversation with Ferguson, but the situation quickly escalated.
Without warning, Laffer unleashed a barrage of bullets, striking Ferguson in the abdomen. Meija, who had stepped away, became his next target, succumbing to two fatal shots. As Ferguson lay on the floor, Laffer returned to deal the final blow. His relentless pursuit for drugs led him to the counter, where he was interrupted by the arrival of Bryon Sheffield, a 71-year-old customer. Sheffield was executed on the spot.
Laffer continued his deadly rampage as Jamie Taccetta, 33, entered the pharmacy only to meet the same tragic fate. In a sequence of cold precision, Laffer filled his backpack with prescription pills, specifically over 11,000 hydrocodone pills, before wiping the counters clean and fleeing the scene. Outside, his wife awaited in a getaway car, complicit in the day's deadly events. In total, seven shots were fired: three struck the pharmacist, two hit his assistant, and each customer received a single fatal shot.
Background to the Tragedy
David Saul Laffer, born on November 16, 1977, was a longtime Medford resident and a 1995 graduate of Patchogue-Medford High School. His life took a turn when he joined the U.S. Army, but it was his battle with opioid addiction that set the stage for the tragic events at Haven Drugs. Laffer and his wife were regulars at a notorious "pill mill," a place where they fed their addiction. Stan Xuhui Li, the doctor behind this illegal operation, had previously sold drugs to Laffer, contributing to the couple's dependency.
The Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
The manhunt for Laffer was swift. On June 22, 2011, just days after the massacre, authorities captured him. In the courtroom the following day, Laffer pled not guilty, claiming that his actions were driven by job loss and his wife's pressing need for painkillers. Despite this defense, the evidence was overwhelming.
On November 10, 2011, justice was served. Laffer received a life sentence without the possibility of parole. His wife, equally culpable, was sentenced to 25 years for her role in the robbery. The presiding judge did not mince words, describing Laffer as possessing an "unnatural viciousness" and expressing a desire to see him in solitary confinement for life, though corrections officials would have the final say.
The ripple effects of this crime extended beyond Laffer and his wife. Dr. Stan Xuhui Li, the operator of the illegal pharmacy that fueled Laffer's addiction, faced his own reckoning. In December 2014, Li was sentenced to up to 20 years in prison for his role in the deaths of two patients who overdosed on his illegally prescribed medications.
David Laffer Speaks Out
Years later, in May 2023, while serving his sentence at Elmira Correctional Facility, Laffer broke his silence in an interview with News 12 Networks. Reflecting on the five minutes of violence that forever changed lives, Laffer expressed deep regret over his actions and discussed the pervasive issues of gun violence and drug addiction in America.
The Medford pharmacy shooting remains a haunting reminder of the devastating consequences of addiction and despair, forever altering the lives of the victims' families and the community of Medford.
Sources
For further details and references, visit the original Wikipedia article.
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Pharmacy Shooting
David Saul Laffer kills four people during a robbery at Haven Drugs.
Suspect Arrested
David Laffer is arrested in connection with the pharmacy shooting.
Laffer Pleads Not Guilty
David Laffer pleads not guilty to charges related to the shooting.
Sentencing of Laffer
David Laffer is sentenced to life without parole for the murders.
Wife Sentenced
Laffer's wife is sentenced to 25 years in prison for her role in the robbery.
Doctor Sentenced
Dr. Stan Xuhui Li is sentenced to up to 20 years for his role in the overdose deaths.
Laffer Speaks Out
David Laffer breaks silence in an interview, expressing regrets about the shooting.
On June 19, 2011, a mass shooting occurred at Haven Drugs pharmacy in Medford, New York, resulting in the deaths of four individuals during a robbery executed by David Saul Laffer, who was motivated by drug addiction and financial desperation. Laffer entered the pharmacy armed with a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, fatally shooting employees Jennifer Meija, Raymond Ferguson, and customers Bryon Sheffield and Jamie Taccetta. Following the incident, Laffer was apprehended and subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, while his wife received a 25-year sentence. Investigations revealed Laffer and his wife had a history of opioid addiction and had visited an illegal pharmacy prior to the shooting; additionally, the operator of that pharmacy, Stan Xuhui Li, was later sentenced for his role in a pill mill operation linked to overdose deaths.
Many believe that David Saul Laffer's actions were driven by desperation stemming from his opioid addiction and financial instability after losing his job. Some speculate that his wife's involvement indicates a shared motive, as both were struggling with addiction at the time of the robbery. Additionally, the connection to a doctor running a pill mill raises questions about the broader implications of prescription drug abuse and its role in fueling violent crime.
The 2011 Medford Pharmacy Shooting: A Gripping Tale of Desperation and Tragedy
The Crime Unfolds
On a seemingly ordinary Sunday, June 19, 2011, the quiet town of Medford, New York, was rocked by a chilling and violent crime that would leave an indelible mark on its community. The scene was Haven Drugs, a local pharmacy located at coordinates 40°48′04″N 73°00′13″W. David Saul Laffer, driven by desperation and addiction, transformed this small-town pharmacy into a site of unthinkable horror.
Laffer, armed with a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, entered Haven Drugs with a concealed weapon inside his backpack. His mission: to secure a stash of painkillers. As he approached the counter, 17-year-old employee Jennifer Meija and 45-year-old Raymond Ferguson, another employee, were the first to encounter the impending danger. Laffer requested a private conversation with Ferguson, but the situation quickly escalated.
Without warning, Laffer unleashed a barrage of bullets, striking Ferguson in the abdomen. Meija, who had stepped away, became his next target, succumbing to two fatal shots. As Ferguson lay on the floor, Laffer returned to deal the final blow. His relentless pursuit for drugs led him to the counter, where he was interrupted by the arrival of Bryon Sheffield, a 71-year-old customer. Sheffield was executed on the spot.
Laffer continued his deadly rampage as Jamie Taccetta, 33, entered the pharmacy only to meet the same tragic fate. In a sequence of cold precision, Laffer filled his backpack with prescription pills, specifically over 11,000 hydrocodone pills, before wiping the counters clean and fleeing the scene. Outside, his wife awaited in a getaway car, complicit in the day's deadly events. In total, seven shots were fired: three struck the pharmacist, two hit his assistant, and each customer received a single fatal shot.
Background to the Tragedy
David Saul Laffer, born on November 16, 1977, was a longtime Medford resident and a 1995 graduate of Patchogue-Medford High School. His life took a turn when he joined the U.S. Army, but it was his battle with opioid addiction that set the stage for the tragic events at Haven Drugs. Laffer and his wife were regulars at a notorious "pill mill," a place where they fed their addiction. Stan Xuhui Li, the doctor behind this illegal operation, had previously sold drugs to Laffer, contributing to the couple's dependency.
The Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
The manhunt for Laffer was swift. On June 22, 2011, just days after the massacre, authorities captured him. In the courtroom the following day, Laffer pled not guilty, claiming that his actions were driven by job loss and his wife's pressing need for painkillers. Despite this defense, the evidence was overwhelming.
On November 10, 2011, justice was served. Laffer received a life sentence without the possibility of parole. His wife, equally culpable, was sentenced to 25 years for her role in the robbery. The presiding judge did not mince words, describing Laffer as possessing an "unnatural viciousness" and expressing a desire to see him in solitary confinement for life, though corrections officials would have the final say.
The ripple effects of this crime extended beyond Laffer and his wife. Dr. Stan Xuhui Li, the operator of the illegal pharmacy that fueled Laffer's addiction, faced his own reckoning. In December 2014, Li was sentenced to up to 20 years in prison for his role in the deaths of two patients who overdosed on his illegally prescribed medications.
David Laffer Speaks Out
Years later, in May 2023, while serving his sentence at Elmira Correctional Facility, Laffer broke his silence in an interview with News 12 Networks. Reflecting on the five minutes of violence that forever changed lives, Laffer expressed deep regret over his actions and discussed the pervasive issues of gun violence and drug addiction in America.
The Medford pharmacy shooting remains a haunting reminder of the devastating consequences of addiction and despair, forever altering the lives of the victims' families and the community of Medford.
Sources
For further details and references, visit the original Wikipedia article.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Pharmacy Shooting
David Saul Laffer kills four people during a robbery at Haven Drugs.
Suspect Arrested
David Laffer is arrested in connection with the pharmacy shooting.
Laffer Pleads Not Guilty
David Laffer pleads not guilty to charges related to the shooting.
Sentencing of Laffer
David Laffer is sentenced to life without parole for the murders.
Wife Sentenced
Laffer's wife is sentenced to 25 years in prison for her role in the robbery.
Doctor Sentenced
Dr. Stan Xuhui Li is sentenced to up to 20 years for his role in the overdose deaths.
Laffer Speaks Out
David Laffer breaks silence in an interview, expressing regrets about the shooting.