1 dead, 1 in custody after shootout with police in major drug bust in Inwood
NEW YORK -- NYPD officers were involved in a deadly shootout during a drug bust late Friday night in Inwood.
Police officers, federal drug enforcement agents and state police arrested a man and found another dead inside a first-floor apartment where they were barricaded, CBS2's Kristie Keleshian reported Saturday.
Caution tape blocked off parts of Vermilyea Avenue after authorities said one of the suspects shot at them. Authorities said they were conducting a significant narcotics operation at around 8:45 p.m. Friday.
"As the members of the task force tried to make the apprehension, at least one of the males pulled the gun on them and fired at them. Members of the task force were able to apprehend one male right away," said NYPD Chief of Patrol Jeffrey Maddrey.
The officers returned fire at the other suspect.
"The male was inside the apartment. He was barricaded. Our units tried to make contact," said Maddrey.
But after some time, they heard nothing. When they checked inside the apartment, they found him dead and were unsure if it was from their shots or if he shot himself.
"As they got closer to the male, they saw a gun on his person. They were able to move the gun away," Maddrey said. "Inside the apartment, we recovered at least two firearms."
Neighbors told CBS2 they've noticed more drug activity since the start of the pandemic.
Kaarin Holmberg said she's been living in Inwood since the mid 70s. She generally feels safe in her neighborhood, saying "more so than, like, in Midtown," but said she wasn't surprised by Friday's incident and she lives with the chilling thought that something like this could happen anywhere.
"Kind of nervous, but you know, gotta make sure you know where you are and you don't really know, you don't know," she said.
Police said it could take some time before they release more information on the suspects because of the amount of agencies involved.