NYPD investigating officer-involved shooting during Bronx traffic stop
The NYPD said it is investigating an officer-involved shooting in the Bronx that left a driver hospitalized in critical condition after a traffic stop.
Police said the incident involved uniformed officers in two unmarked patrol vehicles and occurred about 8 p.m. Sunday in the Morrisania section of the Bronx.
At a news conference late Sunday, police said the officers observed a black Jeep running "several" red lights. When the Jeep stopped for a light at the intersection of Boston Road and East 165th Street, an unmarked police vehicle, lights activated, came to an angled stop in front to block it, while a second unmarked unit pulled up from behind and stopped, police said.
As officers exited their vehicles, the driver of the Jeep backed up and sped at one officer, who discharged his weapon, striking the driver, the NYPD said.
It was not immediately clear how many rounds were discharged.
Police said officers "immediately began to render life-saving aid" to the driver, who was transported to Lincoln Medical Center in critical condition.
Two officers also were transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation, the NYPD said.
Police body cameras were activated during the incident and the footage is being reviewed. The circumstances of the shooting are being investigated by the NYPD's 4th Investigation Division, police said.
NYPD Chief of Department Kenneth Corey said that while NYPD policy is not to shoot at a moving vehicle unless something other than the vehicle is being used as a weapon, there are exceptions to that policy and circumstances are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Three passengers in the Jeep were unharmed and taken by police to the 42nd Precinct for additional investigation, police said.
John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”
