NYPD officer, innocent bystander both shot in leg in Queens, suspect killed
NEW YORK — A New York City Police officer and a bystander were shot in Queens on Tuesday evening, police said.
The alleged gunman was shot and killed. Both the officer and the bystander are expected to be OK.
Gunfire exchanged after Queens robbery
The incident began around 5:35 p.m. when officers responded to a 911 call reporting a robbery in progress at a bodega on Hillside Avenue where a man allegedly threatened workers and customers with a firearm and fired one shot.
Witnesses provided police with a description of the suspect, which was broadcast over police radios.
Police said as officers were canvassing in the area just before 6:30 p.m., they were flagged down by a witness who pointed out a man who had allegedly just robbed a smoke shop on Guy Brewer Boulevard. One shot was also fired during that robbery, police say.
According to police, the man fit the description of the suspect in the previous robbery.
NYPD Officer Rich Wong and his partner approached the man near 161st Street and Jamaica Avenue and asked him to stop, but the man started running and pulled out a firearm, police said.
According to police, the two officers ordered the suspect to drop the gun, but the suspect fired one shot, striking Wong in the thigh.
Police said Wong then returned fire, striking the suspect in the face. The suspect was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Wong was taken to a local hospital for treatment and is expected to be OK. Police say Wong, 36, has been with the NYPD for seven years, and the department credits his partner for saving his life by swiftly rushing him to the hospital.
Police said a 26-year-old woman was also shot in the leg, but it's unclear whether she was shot by the suspect or an NYPD officer. She was also taken to a local hospital for treatment and is expected to recover.
Both Wong and the bystander are expected to stay in the hospital overnight for observation and be released Wednesday morning.
Suspect in Queens shooting had 17 prior arrests
The suspect has been identified as 57-year-old Gary Worthy, of Queens.
According to police, Worthy had 17 prior arrests, including for murder, robbery, burglary and narcotics possession. Police said he was on lifetime parole for firearms possession.
Worthy was last arrested six days ago for possession of felony narcotics and resisting arrest, police said. He was released on his own recognizance.
Police said since Worthy was placed on lifetime parole in 2021, he has been arrested seven other times.
"We are grateful tonight, but we are also angry. We're angry because we have witnessed in two days a criminal justice system that is failing New Yorkers and the good people of this city. Angry that a violent repeated offender who has prior gun arrests, who pled guilty to manslaughter and who was arrested for seven crimes since [2021] alone was free to commit two robberies tonight," Mayor Eric Adams said.
"I want to be very clear – yet again, a violent criminal with absolutely no regard for human life decided to open fire on an NYPD officer in the middle of a busy New York City street. This extreme recklessness resulted in injuries to our officer and cost the suspect his life," interim NYPD Commissioner Tom Donlon said.
Police said Worthy was also wanted for three additional gunpoint robberies in which shots were fired that occurred on Halloween and Nov. 15.