3 New York City officers injured in machete attack, suspect shot near New Year's Eve ball drop

A man with a machete attacked three New York City police officers not far from the city's New Year's Eve celebration, police said early Sunday.

Two were struck in the head and were hospitalized. One officer — a rookie, patrolling on his first day with the NYPD — suffered a fractured skull, said Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell during a press conference. The other, an officer in his eighth year with the NYPD suffered a bad gash. All three officers were in stable condition and expected to recover, a spokesperson said Sunday. 

The 19-year-old suspect, who police sources identified as Trevor Bickford, according to CBS New York, was shot in the shoulder by one of the offices. He is also expected to recover. 

According to CBS New York, Bickford had recently been placed on an FBI terror watchlist after his aunt reported he had been radicalized online and had expressed a desire to travel overseas and fight with Islamic extremists.  

The attack occurred shortly after 10 p.m., just eight blocks from Times Square, where thousands were packed in for the city's annual New Year's ball drop.

Mayor Eric Adams said that he had spoken to an injured officer at the hospital while his wound was being stitched.

"He was in good spirits," Adams said. "He understood that his role saved lives of New Yorkers today."

Adams praised the officers' actions and said the incident was isolated.

"We're really pleased by the response and how our officers handled this situation. All three of the officers are in stable conditions and there are no credible threats to New Yorkers at this time," Adams said. 

The assistant director in charge of the FBI's New York field office said it appeared the suspect acted alone.

The FBI, NYPD and Joint Terrorism Task Force are investigating, but have not said if they've determined a motive for the attack.