John was filing retirement papers at police headquarters downtown when the first plane struck the World Trade Towers. He and the captain on duty rushed to the scene to help evacuate people. The building was dark, and John and the captain were leading people out by having them follow the sound of their voices. When the building bagan to collapse, the captain warned John to evacuate, but John insisted on staying as long as there were people still inside. The captain barely got out in time and saw John disappear into the dust as the building fell.