Man Talks to Police in Van, Shoots

Officer survives what officials call 'an assassination attempt'
By Bob Cronin,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 9, 2020 9:25 AM CST
Man Chats With Police in Van, Then Opens Fire
An image taken from video shows a man New York police are looking for in connection with the shooting of a police officer in the Bronx.   (New York Police Department via AP)

A New York police officer was wounded Saturday night while sitting in a marked patrol van in the Bronx with another officer. A man walked up to the driver's side of the van and asked for help finding an address, police said. The van was starting to pull away when the man pulled a gun and fired several times, WNBC reports. The officer behind the wheel was grazed by one or two bullets that just missed his carotid artery, police said. He was able to drive around the corner and stop so he could switch seats with his partner, who drove the van to a hospital. Police said they expect the wounded officer to make a full recovery. "This was an assassination attempt of two New York city police officers," NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said, per the Post. "It is a miracle we are not here under worse circumstances."

Police sealed off the Hunts Point area and launched a search for the attacker, using helicopters, looking under cars, and going door to door. "This police department will use all its resources to make sure we bring this person to justice," the president of the police benevolence association said at a press conference. Added Mayor Bill de Blasio, "There is too much hatred in general, and there is too much hatred directed at our officers, and it has to end." The partners have known each other since middle school and joined the force eight years ago. "It's an amazing story," the commissioner said. (More police shooting stories.)

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