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TIA Passenger Treated for Gunshot Wound in Charlotte
WCNC-TV
William Notaro is loaded into an ambulance by Charlotte Fire Department paramedics Saturday night.
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Published: October 21, 2007
Updated: 10/21/2007 01:20 pm
TAMPA A commercial airplane passenger who complained of pain caused by gunshot wounds wanted a Band Aid, hoping to continue his flight to his final destination, authorities reported.
William J. Notaro, 37, of 115 Belleair Place, Clearwater, told authorities he was shot three times by a woman during a dispute at the Windemere Apartments, 1763 Main St., Dunedin. He told police he was shot at 3 a.m. Saturday.
Notaro left Tampa around 7 p.m. on a U.S. Airways flight and never requested medical treatment from airport officials, said Tampa International Airport spokeswoman Brenda Geoghagan on Sunday morning.
Notaro was playing cards with friends in the Dunedin apartment when the argument with the woman started, authorities said. He was shot with a small caliber handgun in the torso. Notaro left the apartment and "dressed" the wounds so he could make his flight to Albany N.Y., from Tampa authorities said.
Notaro was changing planes in Charlotte, N.C, when his bleeding became noticeable, authorities said. He was treated at Carolinas Medical Center before Notaro resumed his flight to visit family, authorities said.
While in the air, he asked a flight attendant if he could have a Band Aid for a gunshot wound, authorities said.
He told Charlotte airport police that he wanted to continue to his destination, according to news reports from WCNC, the NBC affiliate in Charlotte, and the Charlotte Observer.
Notaro was shown on videotape on a stretcher, being loaded into an ambulance, however.
Notaro did not appear to be incapacitated by the reported injuries. He was smiling and talking to paramedics, waving his arms and using his white baseball cap to shield his face from onlookers.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said Notaro told them he was shot in a domestic argument, but boarded the airplane anyway.
Authorities said Notaro has given conflicting information in Albany, N.Y., as they follow leads on a suspect. Deputies are still investigating, even though Notaro has indicated that he may not wish to prosecute.
Pinellas County Sherriff's Office is investigating the incident.
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