Daily News from New York, New York • 5

By SAM ROBERTS Political Editor particularly my parents, the voters who have supported me in the past and the political parties which helped me reach the State Legislature, the Congress and the United Nations. All that, I do not want to do." Moynihan, in a statement released by his office, said, "One must never take pleasure in another person's pain." REP. HAMILTON FISH (R Dutchess) has emerged as a leading candidate to succeed Caputo on the.Republican and Conservative lines. Among others mentioned have been Rep. Gregory Carman, who is likely to lose his Long Island district under reapportionment, Rep.

Gary Lee of Ithaca, Suffolk County Executive Peter Cohalan, Assemblyman Glenn Warren of Dutchess and GOP gubernatorial hopefuls James Emery, Richard Rosenbaum and Lewis Lehrman. Some Republican leaders have been trying to persuade Lehrman to switch to the Senate race to avoid a primary fight with Controller Edward Regan, who is Republican State Chairman George Clark choice for governor. But Lehrman has resisted, as have some other would-be Senate candidates who consider the opportunity to run against Moynihan a dubious distinction. Faced with the loss of political and financial support, Caputo's campaign has been on hold since mid-February when he admitted that he "misspoke" to Daily News reporter Harrison Rainie andothers by describing himself as a draftee and a lieutenant when, in tact, he had served as a civilian employe of the Defense Department during the Vietnam war. Former Rep.

Bruce Caputo formally abandoned his bid for the United States Senate late yesterday, leaving the Republican, Conservative and Right to Life parties the chore of finding a challenger to Democratic incumbent Daniel P. Moynihan. Caputo bowed out "with deep regret and considerable heartache" in the wake of disclosures three weeks ago that he had lied about his military record. "I would have liked the time to present my version of recent events and defend my record and ideas," the 38-year-old former Westchester congressman said in a statement released by his office. "But continuing the campaign would only hurt my family, 7 -J i Bruce Caputo "would like to get on with his life," says spokesman.

1 1 i $pt i I BHX TUANBULL DAILY NEWS paui oanaiae, composer ana lyricist, piays pnze-winning "Daily News Crimefighters," song he wrote to stimulate citizen participation. Slay teara if or Bsid3i on) Qyiiis By MURRAY WEISS A Queens high school student-described as "a nice kid" who "never bothered anyone" was shot dead with a hunting rifle yesterday on his way home from school when he refused to surrender a radio to two teenagers, police said. The attackers fled with the radio. The victim, Gary McNeil, 17, an 11th grader at Bayside High School, was approached after he stepped off a bus near his home on 125th Ave. in Laurelton.

Two youths, driving what police described as an old, green Dodge, spotted him carrying the large radio under his arm. THE TWO followed McNeil as he walked along 233d St to 121st where they jumped from the car, ran up to him and demanded the radio. McNeil resisted, and one of the youths pulled the sawed-off, large-caliber hunting rifle from under his coat and opened fire, hitting McNeil in the chest and stomach, said Police Officer Jack Dowd of the Queens Village station. That rifle "could knock down an elephant," said one detective. "I was working on my car when I heard boom, boom, boom," said a friend of McNeil, who asked not to be identified.

"When I ran up the block, I saw him lying in the street it was hal toin The Daily News Crimefighters, are trying to help by lending a hand. The Daily News Crimefighters, are trying to help every woman and man. We're tired of living in fear, every day and month of the year. The Daily News Crimefighters, are trying to show you a different way. The Daily News Crimefighters, are trying to help so that crime doesnt pay.

We've; got to win this war, and make our city safe once more. We're the Daily News Crimefighters. The Daily News Crimefighters'each day. Words and music by Faul Candide, 1982 campaign that he received the first $23 award for the best crimefighting suggestion of the day. He writes songs about his experiences and crime is one of them.

A YEAR AGO, CANDIDE WAS returning from work at the Morgan Station of the Postal Service when three youths in the IND subway station at 190th St, stole his wallet, with $15, and his briefcase, containing several songs from an unfinished musical about New York, "City of Dreams." "I didn't mind the money so much but the loss of the songs hurt me," said Candide. Candide (that's a pen name; his real name is Fafard) said he has written hundreds of songs, but none has been published until his "Daily News Crimefighters." Candide's father, the late Armand Fafard, played violin with Victor Herbert on a tour of Canada in 1922. And the whole family, including four brothers and a sister, performed in concert along the East Coast during the 1940s and 50s as the Fafard Family Ensemble. One of their biggest engagements was at Town Hall on Nov. 7, 1950.

awful. He was just such a nice kid, By ALEX MICHELINI Paul Candide is a New Yorker fighting crime his way with a song- A member of a musical family that once played Town Hall, Candide works nights as a postal clerk so friendly." Vista Fields, who lives across the street from McNeil, his parents and a -brother, said: "Gary was very popular and always went to church with his family they are very close." The suspects were described as black, about 5 feet-8 and between 17 and 19 years old. One was described as muscular, with a pencil mustache and 50 wearing blank pants and a dark leather jg jacket with a fur collar. The other suspect was described as light-skinned, with a short Afro haircut He was wearing a red and white ski jacket Police asked anyone with information to call (212) 740-0626. All calls, will You can Jielp make New York a safer place.

And you can win money at the same time. Join the Daily News Crimefighter campaign. Send us your idea on fighting crime. Every day, we'll award $23 for the best crimefighting suggestion. Maybe your tip will help save a life, prevent a burglary, foil a stickup or avoid an injury.

And maybe you will win $25. Please do not telephone. Write your idea in 50 words or less. Mail it to: tnat ne can pursue nis tirsi love writing music during the day. The other morning he sat down at the piano and penned this composition, which is real music to the ears of the Daily News Crimefighter campaign.

"I hope this song will inspire people to combat crime in whatever way they DAILY NEWS ICMSSZFICHTER can," Candide, 42, of W. 192d St, said yesterday. "Something has to be done, and this is my contribution, expressing it in a gong." i i CRIMEFIGHTER P.O. Box 1481 Grand Central Terminal t-JVc w- Yark, CatkUdVf ftgiaai--was -wtch- on. instant ait with th.