2 NYPD officers shot in the Bronx, 1 suspect dead
NEW YORK -- Two NYPD officers were shot Thursday night in the Melrose Houses development in the Bronx, and one suspect was killed by an apparent self-inflicted gunshot afterward, CBS New York reported.
NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Benjamin Tucker told the station three officers were conducting a vertical patrol in a sixth-floor stairwell in the public housing building when they found two suspects, one of whom opened fire and wounded the two officers.
The officers were taken to Lincoln Hospital. One officer, a 29-year-old man, suffered a graze wound to the face and his condition was reported as stable, police said.
The other officer, a 24-year-old woman, was wounded in the torso below her vest and was in serious condition. She was in surgery late Thursday and was expected to recover. Both officers have been with the NYPD for two years and work in Police Area 7, Tucker said.
The suspects then ran into a seventh-floor apartment, where one was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said. The second person police spotted in the stairwell was in custody, Tucker said.
Two others in the apartment were taken into custody and were being questioned at the 40th Precinct station, police said.
A .32 caliber semi-automatic handgun that was believed to be the weapon used to shoot the officers was found in the apartment, NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said. A shotgun was also found in the apartment.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference at the hospital that he had met with the family of one of the officers, while the other family was on the way.
"It's another example of what officers confront every single day in keeping us safe on the streets of our city, and in the stairwells and hallways of our public housing developments," de Blasio said.
The shooting happened less than five miles from where de Blasio was delivering his State of the City speech. His spokeswoman, Karen Hinton, said the mayor was briefed as soon as he left the stage and rushed to the hospital.
"Obviously we're deeply troubled and concerned by what happened and pray they will be OK," Hinton said.
Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch said the shooting was evidence of the dangers of patrolling public housing, and should serve as a reminder that police officers need the public's help.
"We need your support to teach your young folks that pulling a gun on a police officer works for no one," Lynch said.