According to this article, he was murdered.
FDNY 9-11 veteran found murdered in Scottsdale
Kevin Curran
12 News
May. 22, 2007 09:55 PM
On Sept. 11, 2001, thousands of New York City firefighters rushed to the World Trade Center after hijacked planes crashed into each of the twin 110-story towers. Within hours, both buildings had collapsed into a pile of rubble. 343 of those firefighters perished that day.
In the more than five years since the attack, many of the firefighters, police officers, paramedics and work crew members who searched the site and removed the debris have been stricken by a series of illnesses.
One of those firefighters was Sal Princiotta. He was a member of Ladder 9, based at a firehouse less than a mile from Ground Zero. Ten firefighters from that house died on Sept. 11, as well as Princiotta’s uncle, a deputy chief of the FDNY. advertisement
On May 14, Scottsdale police were called by a relative of Princiotta. They had not heard from him and were concerned. Officers responded to his condominium near Raintree Dr. and Thompson Peak Pky. and found Princiotta had died several days earlier.
A few days later, the 43-year-old Princiotta’s body was placed on a historic fire truck and taken to Sky Harbor Airport under police escort for a final trip back to New York and a funeral on Long Island.
His death notice published in Newsday on May 18 said he died, “as a result of post 9/11 lung complications.”
On Tuesday, Scottsdale police announced that Princiotta was the victim of a homicide, but refused to reveal the manner or cause of death. “Certain details of the case need to be held in confidence to preserve our ability to successfully prosecute case,” Sgt Mark Clark said. Clark added investigators were aware of Princiotta’s health condition.
The homicide case was a shock to Princiotta’s brother, Joseph. He told 12 News the family expected pathology to show the lung condition had taken Sal. He claimed Scottsdale police never told the family his brother had been murdered.
Joseph said Sal moved to Arizona last January because he found it easier to breathe. He also enjoyed the camaraderie of many FDNY retirees who now call the Valley of the Sun home.
Some of those retirees accompanied his casket during its motorcade to the airport.
A lapel pin bearing the logo of the Fire Department City of New York is attached to the entry door of Princiotta’s condominium.
Neighbor Matt Greenhaw said the retired firefighter spoke of Sept. 11, “it was something that took a toll on him and he talked about other firefighters, his good friends, who had kind of gone off the deep end from what they saw and the loss of so many friends and family.”
Two months after the attack, Princiotta was one of six FDNY members who rode bicycles from New York to Pasadena, Calif. The “Thank You America” tour was a way for the firefighters to show their appreciation for the outpouring of support shown by Americans to those who responded on that tragic morning.
In his retirement, Sal Princiotta found a new passion. He was working as a photographer, taking shots of events, sports and landscapes. His online photo album contains almost 600 pictures on more than 30 pages.
