“On this Christmas Eve for Christmas, I would say that someone is absolutely watching over us here at the NYPD tonight,” said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The incident started before 9 pm on Thursday, when the NYPD received a series of calls to 911 from a mother saying, “Get here fast, get here now. He will come here and shoot in the place,” according to the NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea. The mother was referring to the daughter’s boyfriend, he said.
New York City police officers from the 77th District arrived at the Crown Heights home and began interviewing the mother and daughter when her boyfriend stopped in front of the house and opened fire, said Shea.
“You see incredible bravery on the part of the police,” said Shea, who analyzed the images from the body’s camera. “You see your girlfriend pointing and the next thing you hear are shots being fired.”
An officer was hit in the back – but the bulletproof vest prevented the bullet from penetrating the officer, Shea said as he held the vest.
Other officers who responded to the incident saw the 20-year-old suspect fire his weapon and two officers fired at least seven shots at the suspect, Shea said. A short chase ensued and the police managed to arrest the suspect in a block or two, he said. The man was not injured.
Speaking at Kings County Hospital on Thursday, de Blasio said the policeman, whose name has not been released, has been treated for his injuries and is in some pain. He is in a “very good mood” and should be leaving the hospital soon.
“Because the NYPD was there, that woman is alive now,” said de Blasio. “Because our officer has put himself in danger – an innocent woman is alive tonight.”