NYPD detective injured after police vehicle struck by gunfire in Brooklyn
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NEW YORK -- Police are searching for a suspect in a Brooklyn shooting that left an NYPD detective hurt Thursday.
Police say two officers were sitting in a marked car when a bullet pierced through the window.
Investigators are still trying to determine whether the officer was grazed by the bullet or injured by glass from the shattered window.
As CBS2's Thalia Perez reports, the injured has been identified as 26-year-old Det. Sunjay Verma. He is a neighborhood coordination officer and the son of a retired detective.
Police say it happened around 4:30 p.m. outside 17 Legion Street near Pitkin Avenue.
They say someone on foot opened fire on a white car passing by, but struck the patrol car instead.
"At least one round hit the driver's side window of the vehicle, smashing the glass. The officer driving the vehicle sustained an injury to his arm. He was taken to an area hospital and is currently being treated for non-life-threatening injuries," NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said.
"We're going to do everything possible to find the person who's guilty of this shooting and continue our pursuit to rid our streets of guns," Mayor Eric Adams said.
Police recovered a 9mm handgun at the scene while neighbors say they're tired of living on edge.
"There's too much guns in the streets," neighbor Winston Lander said. "The solution is to get the guns off the street and get the criminals behind bars."
As police investigated that scene, there was another shooting just two hours later a mile and a half away in Ocean Hill. Two people were injured. Police say the victims were on the street when they heard shots and felt pain.
Back in Brownsville, the mayor reacted with passion to more gun violence on city streets just hours after the Supreme Court's decision to strike down New York's concealed carry law.
"Today, out of all the other decisions, the Supreme Court hands down the decision that basically states our job is going to get harder. Our job is going to get harder. Too many guns on our street with too many bad people returning to our streets to do bad things to innocent people," Adams said.
As that detective recovers in the hospital, the mayor promised Thursday to work with the governor on preventing a new flood of guns on city streets.
NYPD detective injured in Brooklyn shooting
NYPD Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell says uniformed officers from the 73rd Precinct were on patrol in a marked NYPD vehicle in the area of Pitkin Avenue and Legion Street around 4:30 p.m. when an individual walking near them "suddenly and without provocation" pulled out a gun and opened fire.
Police officials say they believe the shooter was trying to strike a white vehicle that was driving northbound on Legion Street, but at least one round hit the driver's side window of the NYPD vehicle, smashing the glass.
The detective who was driving sustained an injury to his arm. Officials said it is still being determined whether the detective was struck by a bullet or injured by the shattered glass.
Police say the officers then got out of the vehicle and pursued the gunman, who ducked into a nearby courtyard, causing the officers to lose sight of him.
Officers recovered a firearm in the back of a building on Legion Street.
Police say they have established a "frozen zone" in the area and the search for the gunman is ongoing.
The injured detective was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
"More and more we need every arm of the criminal justice system to participate in this fight, and we feel as though it's not. And today, out of all the other decisions, the Supreme Court hands down the decision that basically states our job is going to get harder. Our job is going to get harder. Too many guns on our street with too many bad people returning to our streets to do bad things to innocent people," Mayor Eric Adams said.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
Press conference with Mayor Eric Adams, Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell expected soon
Mayor Eric Adams and Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell are expected to hold a live briefing on the shooting soon.
Sources: Suspect believed to be inside residential building, gun recovered at scene
Sources tell CBS2 the suspect is believed to be in a residential building at the scene and a weapon has been recovered.
Police say the the officer who was shot was driving a marked NYPD patrol car when someone opened fire at them.
Two officers were in the vehicle. One officer was grazed in the arm. Windows of the patrol car were also also damaged.
The FDNY said the officer who was hit and the other officer were both taken to the hospital for treatment.
Police urge people to avoid the area of the shooting
Police are encouraging people to avoid Pitkin Avenue and Legion Street due to the investigation and first responder activity in the area.
Officer shot in the arm, rushed to the hospital
An NYPD officer was shot in the arm Thursday afternoon, police said.
It happened at Legion Street and Pitkin Avenue in Brownsville at around 4:30 p.m.
The officer was rushed to Kings County Hospital and is expected to survive.
There was no immediate word of the circumstances leading up to the shooting.
