Nassau County Police Officer Fatally Shot Near Cross Island Parkway; Suspect In Custody
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- An intense manhunt for the suspect who fatally shot Nassau County Emergency Services Officer Arthur Lopez and killed another man in a carjacking ended Tuesday afternoon when police found him in Queens with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot, authorities said.
The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Darrell Fuller, was captured at 111th Avenue and 173rd Street in St. Albans. As of 11 p.m., he was hospitalized under police watch in guarded condition, according to Nassau County Police Chief Steven Syrnecki.
When asked if he would survive, authorities said it was "unknown."
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OFFICIALS: SUSPECT HAD CRIMINAL PAST
At a news conference Tuesday night, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano said the suspect apparently shot himself.
"One can only wonder how an animal like this could end up on the streets," Mangano said.
Mangano said Fuller was a "violent felony offender" who did only nine months of prison time for his latest conviction, "and was paroled again and caused today's death."
Fuller was convicted of attempted murder in 2004, and arrested again in 2010 for selling crack cocaine in Nassau County, Mangano said.
WHAT LED TO THE FATAL SHOOTINGS
The tragedies took place at around 11 a.m. Tuesday right on the border between Nassau County and Queens near the southbound entrance ramp of the Cross Island Parkway, officials said.
The incident unfolded when Lopez, 29, thought he saw an auto accident and believed a Honda left the scene of that accident, officials said at an afternoon news conference.
Lopez and his partner gave chase as the vehicle left Northern Boulevard and headed south on the Cross Island Parkway, officials said. Authorities said the Honda was described to them as "running on its rims" at the time the chase was taking place.
The vehicle the officers were following left the Cross Island Parkway at the Jamaica Avenue exit and then continued west on Jamaica Avenue before making a left turn on 241st Street, officials said.
That is when the officers put on their lights and tried to stop the vehicle. Officials said Lopez approached the vehicle before a short exchange of words with the suspect took place.
The suspect exited his vehicle and fired a shot, striking Lopez, officials said.
Officer Lopez's partner administered First Aid while the suspect returned to the car and fled on the Cross Island Parkway, officials said. Lopez was rushed to North Shore-LIJ Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
"Regular traffic stop, the cop stopped the car basically, and by the time he walked up to the car, he opened fire on him," witness Paul Walcott told 1010 WINS' Al Jones. Walcott said the officer was thrown back and crumpled to the ground as the vehicle sped off, Jones reported.
MORE DETAILS ON BOTH SHOOTINGS
Officials said it did not appear Lopez was wearing a bullet-proof vest at the time of the shooting, WCBS 880's Alex Silverman reported.
The suspect then shot another motorist in an apparent carjacking while trying to get away, 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reported. That motorist -- identified by CBS 2 as Raymond Facey, of Brooklyn -- was shot and killed near the Cross Island Parkway and the Belmont Park Race Track.
Officials said the suspect drove the carjacked vehicle a short distance and abandoned it, setting off the massive manhunt. Officers were going door to door with search dogs in Queens Village. The NYPD and FBI also assisted in the search for the gunman.
On Monday, thousands gathered to say a final farewell to Nassau County police officer Joseph Olivieri, who was struck and killed while responding to the scene of an accident on the Long Island Expressway last week.
"To say that this is a difficult time is an understatement," PBA President James Carver said. "This is the second time in a week that we're going to be burying someone whose parents are still alive."
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