By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- An 18-year-old suspect was shot in the arm after ramming NYPD vehicles and deliberately driving an SUV into a sergeant during an attempted vehicle stop on East Fordham Road in the Bronx on Sunday evening.
- Officers tracked the stolen Kia Sportage with New Jersey plates through license plate readers and helicopter surveillance for approximately one mile before surrounding the vehicle with six unmarked cars.
- The sergeant was hospitalized in stable condition after being struck and thrown to the ground; several other officers sustained minor injuries from the vehicle impacts.
- An officer positioned atop the Kia discharged his weapon as the suspect attempted to reverse the vehicle over the injured sergeant and escape through the officer formation.
- The suspect was transported to St. Barnabas Hospital in stable condition; the NYPD Force Investigation Division is reviewing the use of force incident.
BRONX, N.Y. — An 18-year-old man was shot Sunday evening after repeatedly ramming NYPD vehicles and deliberately striking a sergeant with a stolen Kia Sportage during an attempted traffic stop, according to the New York Police Department.
The incident began when an automatic license plate reader flagged the stolen Kia at 5:35 p.m. in Washington Heights. Ten minutes later, another alert placed the vehicle crossing the University Heights Bridge into the Bronx. NYPD Aviation Unit tracked the vehicle from a helicopter as officers from the Community Response Team pursued in unmarked vehicles.
Following the suspect through city streets for approximately one mile, officers observed him stop to release a passenger before accelerating again. Two blocks away, the suspect stopped on East Fordham Road near Webster Avenue, where six unmarked vehicles quickly surrounded the position.
According to NYPD Assistant Chief Aneudy Castillo, officers commanded the suspect to exit the vehicle multiple times, but he refused. Instead, the suspect shifted the Kia into reverse, striking one unmarked vehicle before placing the car in drive and turning toward a sergeant standing near the suspect’s position.
The suspect drove the car directly into the sergeant, throwing him to the ground. In response, another officer jumped atop the Kia to avoid being struck by the vehicle. The suspect then shifted into reverse again, attempting to escape over the downed sergeant who remained in front of the moving vehicle.
The officer positioned on top of the Kia discharged his weapon, striking the suspect in the arm. Officers then apprehended the suspect.
The sergeant was hospitalized in stable condition following the incident. Multiple other officers sustained minor injuries from the vehicle impacts. The 18-year-old suspect was transported to St. Barnabas Hospital and remained in stable condition with an arm wound.
Body-worn camera footage captured the confrontation. The NYPD Force Investigation Division is conducting a standard review of the shooting circumstances. The suspect and his passenger have not been charged as of the time of reporting.
Assistant Chief Castillo noted that the suspect had been arrested in February in connection with a shooting incident at a nearby location.