NYPD: Officers Shoot And Kill Suspect In Brooklyn Days After He Was Released From Prison

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A shooting suspect succumbed to his injuries and died overnight after being shot by officers in Brooklyn, police said Wednesday.

The NYPD said two plainclothes officers were patrolling in front of the Gowanus Houses at around 8 p.m. Tuesday when they saw the man fire a 9 mm semi-automatic gun at someone.

"The officers immediately identified themselves as police and gave multiple orders to drop the weapon. At this time, both officers fired numerous rounds at the male, who was struck several times," Chief of Department Terence Monahan said at the scene.

Family members identified the suspect as 30-year-old Nasheem Prioleau. His distraught mother showed up at the scene asking for answers.

"I don't even know what to say. I'm still in a state of shock," Lashann Tyre told CBS2's Reena Roy.

Tyre said her son was visiting family near Baltic and Hoyt streets moments before shots rang out.

"For this to happen to my son, I don't know, I'm just lost for words right now," she said.

Witnesses said they heard dozens of gunshots.

"When I came downstairs, all I saw was a bunch of cops," one person said.

"It was just shots, it was like mad shots, multiple shots," another person added.

The Hargett family ducked for cover inside their home.

"Just thinking war. That's what it sounded like. It was just a lot of shots -- well over 40," said Jeff Hargett. "It was a first round, then a second round, then the cops said, 'Put your gun down,' and then there's some more gunfire... I dropped my kids to the floor and stayed low."

"I was scared because I was all the way in the living room, so I didn't know what was going on," Akeelah Hargett added.

MORE: NYPD: Police Shoot Armed Suspect On Bronx Subway Platform

Prioleau was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

Police said he was on parole and had a lengthy criminal history, including multiple violent felony convictions.

"The suspect who was shot was released last week from prison after serving five years for robbery," said Monahan.

A community activist who knew him called him a "very good individual."

"He has some past conflicts in his life. He was recently released. And now we're working to figure out how he got into this situation," Shanduke McPhatter said.

Investigators are still working to determine whether Prioleau fired any rounds at police.

"My son may have did things out here. For them to say that he was shooting at police ... something doesn't sound right," Tyre said.

She told CBS2's Dave Carlin her priority will be to help raise her two pre-teen grandkids. She said what police did was excessive and will need many more details from police before she feels otherwise.

Hours after the Brooklyn shooting, police shot another suspect armed with a gun on a subway platform in the Bronx. That man was taken to the hospital in stable condition.

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• Brooklyn
• Shooting
• New York City Police Department
• New York