Man Shot, Killed By Police After Bushwick Deli Robbery
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Officers shot and killed a robbery suspect in Bushwick, Brooklyn early Sunday, police said.
As CBS2's Ali Bauman reported, police said it started when Sergio Reyes, 18, took out his gun and robbed the Garden Deli, a bodega at Irving Avenue and Starr Street in Brooklyn.
The deli clerk said he was terrified when the man held a gun to his face.
"He put a gun next to my face, and he wanted to try to kill me, and he bought the four six-pack beer on top of counter... and he said, 'Bag it up, please, I'm going to shoot you right now,'" the clerk said.
Three officers were called to the scene around 12:40 a.m., and found the man walking down Starr Street, 1010 WINS' Roger Stern reported.
Reyes took off down the street with the beer and police say they told him to stop, CBS2's Erin Logan reported.
"The officers gave verbal commands and engaged the suspect in front of 169 Starr St. The suspect had a black firearm in his hand, and raised it toward the officers," said NYPD Chief of Patrol Terry Monahan.
The officers fired at the suspect and struck him multiple times, police said.
Cellphone video captured the chaotic scene moments after the shots went off.
"My family lives here. My mom lives here. What if something go around in the house – like, it's not safe," one woman said at the scene.
"I heard some loud bangs – about seven to 10 of them. It was pretty stunning for the area. It's been mostly a safe place for me to be," a man at the scene added.
Reyes was pronounced dead at Woodhull Medical Center, police said.
Police released a photo of the gun they recovered, which was believed to be a pellet gun
"The gun looked very real," Ali said.
The deli was closed until 6 p.m. Sunday evening as police investigated the crime scene.
Reyes' father told CBS2 his son was a good man who didn't give him any trouble, and he's heartbroken.