065 JOHN HANLON REMEMBERS

Summary: The ProArms crew is proud to bring you an interview with one of the survivors of the cataclysmic gunfight that occurred in a southern Miami suburb now known as Pinecrest, 25 years ago this coming April 11. New information continues to emerge from this extremely complicated engagement. It had been reported that Hanlon had passed out from loss of blood after being wounded and seeing his companions killed alongside him, but we now learn from the man himself that he never lost consciousness. In the moments before the shooting erupted, while Hanlon was trying to force the suspects’ car off the road from the left side, Agent Richard Manauzzi had rammed the fugitive vehicle from behind, spinning it out of control. Mas had reported back in the ‘80s that Manauzzi had done so to keep either of them from shooting Hanlon or his partner Ed Mireles, but Hanlon reveals that Manauzzi had actually seen suspect Michael Platt raising his rifle toward Hanlon and Mireles. In risking his own life to ram them, Manauzzi probably saved the lives of the agents. Without that action, the fatalities on the FBI side would likely have doubled. We are pleased to be the venue in which this important information was revealed. Steve and Mas, two of our ProArms members with many years in law enforcement, both feel that Hanlon’s comments about the character needed for the job should be played to police recruits on their first day at the Academy. All of us salute the eight courageous agents, living and dead, whose selfless actions brought to an end the long, murderous rampage of Michael Platt and William Matix, and we particularly thank retired Special Agent John Hanlon for sharing his recollections and observations with us and our listeners.