Det. Kenneth Ayala, Officer Injured In Brooklyn Shootout, Released From Hospital
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- One of two remaining New York City police officers who were hospitalized following a weekend shootout in Brooklyn went home on Monday.
Fellow officers cheered as Det. Kenneth Ayala was released from Lutheran Medical Center. Officers said it was Ayala who saved their lives Saturday night when authorities said 33-year-old Nakwon Foxworth opened fire.
1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reports
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"Kenny is a very courageous guy. That's what he trained for and we're glad he was able to help his fellow co-workers, " Lt. Richard Lobasso told 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera.
"He's just a fantastic guy, a fantastic co-worker," an ESU officer told WCBS 880 reporter Peter Haskell.
WCBS 880's Peter Haskell On The Story
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A second officer, Det. Michael Keenan, was still hospitalized but could be released Monday night pending clearance from the NYPD's chief surgeon. Two other wounded officers were released earlier.
Foxworth had a small arsenal of illegal weapons inside his apartment when he got into an argument with moving company employees Saturday in front of a Sheepshead Bay apartment building on Nostrand Avenue, police said.
The movers called 911 after Foxworth allegedly threatened them with a gun. That's when authorities said Foxworth retreated to his sixth floor apartment and barricaded himself inside with his pregnant girlfriend and 4-month-old baby.
A diagram of the apartment based on a police drawing obtained by CBS 2' s John Schriffen showed how the gunfight went down. Sources said Det. Ayala was the first to enter through the door, armed with a ballistic shield. He covered his partners who followed behind. Foxworth allegedly opened fire, shooting 12 times. He then retreated to the bedroom, taking cover behind a TV stand, where he was shot in the abdomen and taken down. He was in critical but stable condition on Monday evening.
"He struck Det. Michael Keenan in his left calf, Det. Kenneth Ayala in the thigh and foot, Police Officer Matthew Granahan in his left calf and Capt. Al Pizzano sustained a graze wound to his face," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said.
"The gunfight occurred in close quarters with the assailant and the officers no more than 10 feet apart."
Police said Foxworth used an illegal, sawed-off military-style assault rifle. Authorities said he's an ex-con who he was released from prison just two years ago after serving 10 years for attempted murder and robbery.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke out about this latest incident at a news conference Sunday, noting that eight members of the NYPD have been shot in the last four months.
"We will continue to do whatever we can to take illegal weapons off our streets, but until Congress takes some action to stand up to the gun lobby, illegal guns will continue to wind up in the hands of people like tonight's shooter," Bloomberg said. "It could have been a great tragedy."
Foxworth was charged with attempted murder, assault on a police officer, criminal possession of a weapon and menacing.
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