Two New York police officers and a 19-year-old man were shot and wounded early Monday during a confrontation in Queens, officials said. All three were hospitalized and are expected to survive.
The incident occurred around 1:40 a.m. when the officers attempted to pull over the man, who was driving a motorized scooter the wrong way on a street, Police Commissioner Edward Caban said at a news conference.
The suspect dismounted the scooter and fled on foot, leading the officers on a chase that lasted several blocks. During the pursuit, the man fired multiple rounds at the officers, who returned fire. One officer was shot in the front of his bullet-resistant vest, while the other was shot in the leg. The suspect was shot in the ankle.
Mayor Eric Adams highlighted the importance of the bullet-resistant vest in saving one of the officers. “This is a bullet hole,” Adams said, holding up the vest at the news conference. “Because of this vest, a young officer is going home.”
A gun was recovered from the scene, and the suspect, identified as a Venezuelan national believed to have entered the U.S. illegally, had no prior arrests in New York City. However, he is suspected in several robbery patterns in Queens, police said, noting that the motorized scooter was not registered.
Robberies involving individuals on motorized scooters have been on the rise in the city, with thieves often snatching cellphones and other items.
