The mugshot shows a fairly clean-cut man with short hair , his head cocked , sporting a half-smile . That was Charles Mozdir in 2012 , when he stood accused of molesting a then 5-year-old boy in California . But authorities did n't see much of Mozdir after that picture , after he failed to show up for his arraignment . `` Our case went cold in 2012 , '' conceded Supervisory Deputy U.S . Marshal Steve Jurman . `` He was definitely living on cash , with a good fake ID . He was off our grid . '' Mozdir reappeared on their radar thanks to a Florida woman who watched CNN 's `` The Hunt '' with John Walsh , which first aired July 20 . She recognized Mozdir when the show 's segment about him aired , she recalled his dog and she ultimately gave authorities his cell phone number , according to a senior law enforcement official . Tip during CNN 's 'The Hunt ' led police to suspect . Her tip and some investigative work led police to Smoking Culture , a smoke shop in New York 's West Village . Working there was a man who some knew as `` Big John . '' He sported a bushy beard and ponytail . He may not have looked much like the man from that 2012 mugshot . But the New York police detective who went into the smoke shop recognized him nonetheless . The detective came back soon with help , only to be greeted by shots from Mozdir . This time , the suspect did n't escape . He was killed in the exchange of fire . Fled after being arrested for child assault . So who was Charles Mozdir ? Where did he go and what did he do , after that 2012 accusation ? To tell his story , you have to start two years ago , in Coronado , California . That 's where two close friends asked Mozdir to help care for their young son , who was home ill with a high fever . The parents say the boy said Mozdir touched his private parts . The parents went to police , after which investigators searched Mozdir 's house and found evidence of child pornography and bestiality on his cell phone and computers , according to U.S . Marshals Service Deputy Brian Grimes . Four days later , they arrested Mozdir . A district attorney told the Coronado boy 's parents Mozdir also was accused of child assault while babysitting another boy . Mozdir posted bail . But rather than show up in court to face the accusation , he ran . Grimes said investigators think Mozdir took all his money with him , indicating in a phone call he might go to Mexico or Japan . His roommate told police Mozdir had two guns and had threatened to kill himself and kill a victim 's father . This all made the Coronado boy 's parents ' nightmare worse , according to Walsh , who made tracking down fugitives his life 's mission after the 1981 abduction and killing of his 6-year-old son , Adam . 5 things to know about fugitive hunter John Walsh . `` This family was destroyed , terrified that he would come back and hurt them , because they had the courage to come forward and file charges against him , '' said Walsh , co-founder of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children . From California to Florida to New York . Authorities searched in California , they looked in the Mexican state of Baja California . But the first indication that Mozdir went east came June 20 , 2012 -- five days after his scheduled arraignment -- when his abandoned vehicle was found hidden in brush outside the coastal Georgia town of Darien . Its license plate was ripped off , an extra gas tank was inside . A bloodhound picked up Mozdir 's scent near U.S. 17 , which runs through Darien . Yet there was no sign of the man himself . As Jurman from the U.S . Marshals Service conceded , authorities did n't have much clue what happened . Now , they have a better idea . According to Jurman , `` ( Mozdir ) had a history of working in smoke shops . He had a hobby of blowing glass , which would come in handy at a smoke shop . '' To some , he seemed friendly enough . On Yelp , one customer of the West Village shop described him as `` super helpful . '' Another wrote : `` John is the dude ! He was pretty chilled and very helpful . '' And while his appearance and identify changed , one thing did not : Mozdir had a dog . The last time he 'd been spotted -- up until this week -- he 'd had his black Labrador , by the name of Lucky , with him . That 's one reason authorities gave credence to the call of the Florida woman , because she mentioned the dog . `` I know Mozdir , '' the caller said , according to Jurman . `` He left here 10 months ago . '' It 's not known if Mozdir went directly from Florida to New York , or if he stopped somewhere in between . But that 's where his story ended -- with a fight . In the smoke shop , Mozdir had a .32-caliber handgun and over 20 rounds of ammunition . As police Commissioner Bill Bratton explained , `` Mozdir fired upon the officers at very close range , and the officers returned fire ... `` During the exchange of gunfire , the detective and two marshals were wounded . Charles Mozdir was shot dead . ''
Charles Mozdir was accused of molesting a 5-year-old New York boy . He did n't show up for his arraignment ; authorities lost track of him . A viewer of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children 's 'The Hunt ' recognized Charles Mozdir ; her tip led to California . Mozdir died in an exchange of gunfire in a West Village smoke shop .