NYPD Police Officers Shooting:Two Off-Duty New York Cops Shot While Answering Bronx Robbery Call [Video]
Two NYPD officers were shot Monday night after answering to a reported armed robbery in the Bronx. Both officers were wounded and underwent surgery. The NYPD is currently searching for the two suspects involved in the shooting.
Commissioner William Bratton explained the officers were part of a five-man group of plainclothes officers who answered to an armed robbery at a grocery store at around 10:35 p.m. As they searched the area they found two suspects, one of who entered a Chinese restaurant.
“As two of the officers approached the male on the street, the other suspect inside of the store came out and fired upon the officers. The officers returned fire, and during the exchange, two anti-crime officers were wounded,” a statement said.
The men then fled in a white Camaro, which was later found along with a black revolver nearby.
Police are investigating whether the men who shot at police are connected to the robbery. The statement adds that one of the suspects may have been wounded, and they are looking into whether a man who entered Columbia Presbyterian Hospital with a gunshot wound to the back is connected to the incident.
“The suspects wanted for the shooting of the officers are described as two male Hispanics approximately 25-30 years old wearing dark clothing. One of the suspects has a close cropped full beard,” Bratton said in the statement.
The two officers, aged 30 and 38, are under care at St. Barnabas Hospital. The 30-year-old was shot on the arm and back and is in critical condition. The other officer was shot in the chest and arm and is stable.
The NYPD announced a reward of $12,000 for information on the suspects who shot the men.
In hopes of gaining more information, the NYPD released security footage depicting the men.
According to NBC New York, the officers wounded have been identified as officer Andrew Dossi, 30, and officer Aliro Pellerano, 38.
“These officers did something that is extraordinarily brave and they did it as part of their commitment,” Bill de Blasio said in a press conference, PIX 11 reports. “They came off their shift. Upon hearing this call, they went back out in search of these criminals.”
Anyone with information can call NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS or contact police through www.NYPDcrimestoppers.com.
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