Photo courtesy of the New York Post
An NYPD officer was released from the hospital after a shooting in the Bronx involving a 16-year-old suspect. Police said the same bullet shot the officer and the suspect on Tuesday night.
According to PIX11 News, the shooting occurred in the Bronx near Lorillard Place and Third Avenue. When officers arrived at the scene, none of them fired their weapons, NYPD commissioner Keechant Sewell said. However, six officers approached the suspect, who was part of a large, disruptive group, and repeatedly commanded him to remove his hands from his pockets.
During a scuffle with the officers, the suspect’s gun fired a single shot, hitting the teen in the groin area. The bullet passed through and struck an officer in the leg.
Chief of Detectives James Essig said the teen’s gun was initially stolen from York County in South Carolina. The weapon, a SIG Sauer, was retrieved from the scene, along with a distorted bullet, PIX11 reported.
The 16-year-old was identified as a member of an alternate group similar to the Crips, Essig said.
Mayor Eric Adams addressed the shooting incident, stating that the teen suspect was arrested at 14 years old for gun possession. He was charged as a juvenile delinquent and put on probation, Essig added.
While discussing information regarding the shooting, Essig also mentioned that the block where the incident happened is a problematic area with drug and gang-related issues.
The officer and suspect were taken to nearby hospitals, police said.
According to the Police Benevolence Association, the injured officer was met with applauding officers and NYPD personnel following his release from the hospital overnight.
This month, Adams has met with a slew of gun prevention groups to combat one of the city’s most significant issues involving gun violence. He aims to reform and rebuild New York City’s plain-clothed anti-crime units to begin the process.
“One officer shot is one officer too many,” Adams said early Wednesday.