Bowling? It can be a right pain in the.. er stomach?

A retired New York City correction captain working security at a Queens bowling alley shot and wounded two men during a violent confrontation early Saturday morning outside the alley, the authorities said.

The retired officer, Michael Iavecchio, 54, was charged with two counts of second-degree assault after the 1:50 a.m. shooting outside the AMF 34th Avenue Lanes, at 6910 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights, the police said.

The two wounded men, both 29, were in stable condition at Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens on Saturday, the police said. The police did not identify them.

The violence unfolded after Mr. Iavecchio, who was armed, asked the men to leave because they were smoking cigarettes in a vestibule, according to the police. Mr. Iavecchio then escorted the men outside, where the ensuing fight and shooting were captured on a surveillance video, a law enforcement official said.

According to the official, words were exchanged and the two men “put their hands” on Mr. Iavecchio. He pulled out a .380-caliber Ruger pistol, but the men “go back at him and he shoots,” the official said.

Mr. Iavecchio fired two shots; one bullet hit one of the men in the chest and the other hit the second man in the stomach, the police said.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was still open, said that detectives were conferring with prosecutors from Queens County, and that it was unclear whether the two wounded men would also be charged with a crime. Detectives at the 115th Precinct station house were reviewing the video. The official added that Mr. Iavecchio had an active and unrestricted license to carry a concealed weapon.

“So his permit is valid,” the official said.

A woman who answered the telephone at the bowling alley on Saturday declined to comment.

“I don’t want to answer any questions,” she said. “I’d rather let my boss deal with that.”

Matthew Carroll, a manager at the bowling alley, referred questions to corporate officials in Virginia, but several calls to those offices were not returned.

The bowling alley is on a desolate commercial strip just south of Northern Boulevard. It has 35 lanes for bowling, as well as billiard tables and a snack bar.

On Saturday afternoon, about half the lanes were occupied with youth bowling teams and families and friends bowling together. One worker said that uniformed police officers had been in the alley on Saturday morning.

“We feel very safe, very secure here,” said Lorna Rainey, who came to the bowling alley on Saturday to see her daughter’s bowling coach. “It’s a great, all-American sport, and it’s a good place for kids to play it.”

Stephen J. Morello, a spokesman for the Department of Correction, said that Mr. Iavecchio retired on July 19, 1999, after an 18-year career.

“He retired voluntarily,” Mr. Morello said.

Mr. Iavecchio held the rank of captain when he retired, and his last assignment was working in the Kings County Hospital Center prison ward, Mr. Morello said. Further details about Mr. Iavecchio’s work history were not immediately available, he added.

minidazzler wrote: »

Nah, even older detectives and whatnot in NYC get to keep their .38's.

Just look at Lenny Briscoe!

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Hold on he was from Limerick- was probably his gun.

DamoDLK wrote: »

Mr Iavecchio was a policeman for 18 years before retiring in 1999. He had an unrestricted licence to carry a concealed weapon. His last posting was in the prison ward of the Kings County Hospital Centre. He has been charged with two counts of second-degree assault. The police spokeswoman said Mr Iavecchio was detained by police who went to the scene of the shooting, but she did not know if he was still being held.

jackiebaron wrote: »

but the pay and benefits are decent enough. Now apparently this Iavecchio guy resigned voluntarily after 18 years. He didn't wait to get his twenty year pension....he quit to go into the exciting world of bowling alley security which probably pays $9 per hour.