NYPD: Cop wounded in Bronx gunfight remains hospitalized

An NYPD cop from the Bronx was recovering at a hospital Wednesday after he was shot during a late-night gunfight within seconds of stopping a man in the borough, authorities said.

The officer, Daniel Vargas, 31, with six and a half years of service, was shot in the lower back Tuesday night and is expected to recover, Shea said just after midnight Wednesday at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx where the wounded cop was being treated.

The man Vargas attempted to stop when shots rang out, Ajani Jones, 24, of the Bronx, was arrested afterward and charged with attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of stolen property, the NYPD said Wednesday.

Moments before the shooting, the cop later identified as Vargas, and at least one other officer had been driving at about 10:29 p.m. on Lafayette Avenue toward White Plains Road in the jurisdiction of the 43rd precinct "when they encountered a subject and initiated a stop," Shea said at the hospital news conference.

"In the course of seconds, what we know is that our officer, we believe, fired one round," he said as Mayor Bill de Blasio and other NYPD officials stood with him at the podium. "We believe the perpetrator fired four rounds, and during that exchange of gunfire our officer was struck what we believe is one time in the lower back, below his bulletproof vest."

Shea showed a photo of what he said was the man's handgun recovered by police. The NYPD has not disclosed the basis for the initial stop, whether any other officers fired, or whether the Jones was injured. Vargas remained at Jacobi Medical Center Wednesday and is expected to make a full recovery, police said.

De Blasio, speaking at the news conference after visiting with the wounded cop’s family with Shea and others from the NYPD’s leadership, said many of the cop's relatives also work for the NYPD.

"Tonight we saw extraordinary bravery — extraordinary bravery. Here is an officer, a young officer, on the streets of the Bronx, getting guns off the streets, to save lives," de Blasio said. "That’s what he does. He’s someone who goes out and puts his life on the line to protect other people in the most powerful way — by depriving criminals of their firearms."

In a tweet, Shea said the shooting was "another terrifying reminder of the dangers your cops face every day as they try to rid NYC streets of gun violence."

With Anthony M. DeStefano

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.