NEW YORK, Jan 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — One New York police officer lost his life and another remains in critical condition following a shooting Friday in the Manhattan neighborhood of Harlem.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) stated during a press conference that the shooting occurred at approximately 6:15 p.m. ET on W. 135th Street near Malcolm X Boulevard.
The incident began when three officers responded to a 911 call of a domestic dispute between a mother and her son in her apartment, officials stated. Once officers entered the apartment, they were ambushed from a back bedroom by the woman’s son, 47-year-old LaShawn McNeil, who fired off a number of rounds, striking two officers.
One officer, identified by the NYPD only as a 22-year-old man, was fatally shot. An additional officer was also hit by shots and remains in critical condition.
The third officer at the scene engaged McNeil with his service pistol, striking him twice and killing him, according to officials.
The two officers were taken to Harlem Hospital, but doctors were unable to save the life of the 22-year-old officer.
A .45 caliber Glock handgun used by the perpetrator was recovered at the scene, officials stated.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is only 20 days into the job, stated that it was “time for us to save our city”. He noted that, while the mayor might not traditionally be at such a press conference, he wanted to stand in solidarity with the NYPD.
“I wanted everyone to be here to understand: It is our city against the killers,” Adams continued. He repeatedly referred to the shooting as a “painful moment.”
The officers were the third and fourth NYPD cops to be shot in the line of duty in recent days.
This follows a slew of violent activities within the city since the new year.
This past Saturday, a homeless man reportedly killed a 40-year-old woman by shoving her in front of an oncoming subway train. It is unclear what precipitated this crime.
Additionally, a 19-year-old woman was recently shot and killed at an East Harlem Burger King that she worked at. The shooting was reportedly part of a robbery gone awry. — NNN-AGENCIES
