NYPD officer shot in leg in Brooklyn, taken to hospital

An NYPD detective was shot in the thigh in Brooklyn on Friday morning by a man wanted for a robbery, Commissioner James O'Neill said.

Det. Miguel Soto, 32, of the Brooklyn North Warrant Squad, was in an unmarked police car with other officers about 6:30 a.m. on Fulton Street near Tompkins Avenue, in Bedford-Stuyvesant when they recognized Kelvin Stichel, 33, as the suspect in a domestic robbery involving a gun, O'Neill said at a Friday morning news conference.

The officers followed Stichel, who walked onto Tompkins Avenue and then turned right on Decatur Street. They got out of the car and chased him on foot, the commissioner said.

After the officers identified themselves and told Stichel to show his hands, Stichel pulled out a gun and fired around six shots at them, hitting Soto in the right thigh, O'Neill said.

Soto, who has been with the NYPD for seven years, returned fire, as did two other officers. Stichel was struck in the right forearm, according to police.

Stichel took off, but was caught later Friday morning a few blocks away, O’Neill said. A gun was recovered, he said.

Soto was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, where he was treated and released Friday afternoon.

"He’s more concerned about his two partners than he was about himself," O'Neill said. "He’s in great spirits . . . he’s a real tough guy."

Stichel was taken to another hospital and was expected to survive. Charges were pending against him, O'Neill said.

"He has numerous prior arrests, including for assaulting a police officer," he said.

Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke with the injured detective by phone, O'Neill said.