An NYPD sergeant is stable after he fell and hit his head and a gunman is in critical condition after being shot by police following a domestic violence related incident in the Williamsbridge section of The Bronx on Thursday night, Oct. 10.

 

A press conference was held on Thursday night at Jacobi Hospital in Morris Park where both patients were being treated attended by NYPD Chief of Patrol Philip Rivera, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny, NYPD Chief Rohan Griffith, chief of the force investigation division, and commanding officer of Patrol Borough Bronx, NYPD Chief Ben Gurley. Rivera provided an overview of the incident, which he said was preliminary and subject to change.

 

He said at around 9.16 p.m. on Thursday night officers from the 49th Precinct responded to a 911 call for a domestic robbery at 791 Van Nest Avenue in the Van Nest neighborhood. He said the male caller said his son had robbed his mother and older brother at gunpoint. Rivera said when the officers arrived at the scene, the caller said he believed the suspect, his son, was now located at 1015 East Gun Hill Road in Williamsbridge and was in possession of a gun.

 

Rivera said officers and the father then went to that address and established a perimeter around the home, knocked on the door, and made contact with the suspect who Rivera said alleged he was not the person they were looking for. Rivera said the father recognized his son’s voice from inside the home.

 

“At that point, the responding officers attempted to keep the door closed while they waited for ESU for a barricaded perp,” Rivera said. “Officers then heard three gunshots and the suspect was able to open the door. The suspect fled through the front door where he encountered officers positioned outside the door.”

Rivera said a struggle ensued as officers attempted to take the man into custody and one officer fell backwards and hit his head. He later described the injury as being “similar to a blood trauma injury.” He continued, “An officer then discharged her firearm, striking the perpetrator twice, once in the lower back and once in the right arm. Officers recovered a loaded firearm in a bag on his person, which Griffith displayed in a photo. This incident is all shown on bodyworn camera footage and footage from the building.”

 

Rivera said the officer who incurred what he said was a serious head injury was immediately taken to Jacobi Medical Center and is in stable condition, as was the occupant of the building who was shot by the police officer and remains in critical condition.

 

Rivera continued, “This incident is being investigated by our force investigation division. The perpetrator is known to this department and has a significant violent criminal history. Once again, our cops walked into a very dangerous domestic situation where they did not know what was on the other side of that door. Thankfully, our officers were able to apprehend the suspect and our injured officer is expected to make a full recovery.”

 

Asked what was being stolen during the initial encounter in Van Nest, Rivera said he didn’t have the specifics and added that nor could he release the specifics of the perpetrator’s violent history at this stage.

 

Asked more about the events leading up to the altercation, Rivera said there were shots fired inside the building in Williamsbridge and police had recovered shell casings inside and ballistic damage to a window.

City Councilman Kevin Riley (C.D. 12) later released a statement in response to the incident which he said took place near his constituency office. He lamented the violence, thanked the NYPD and said he was relieved to hear the injured sergeant was doing ok.

 

“Our office remains committed to working in partnership with our local precincts, community leaders, and service organizations to ensure that residents have access to the resources and support needed in the aftermath of this event,” he said. “Together, we will continue to comfort the root causes of violence, strengthen community trust, and build a safer and more resilient Northeast Bronx for all.”

 

The Bronx District Attorney’s domestic violence unit can be reached on (718) 838 6688.

 

Call the NYC 24/7 Domestic Violence Hotline on 1-800-621-4673, or visit the NYC Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence for more information.

 

The Domestic Violence Officer at the 52nd Precinct, which covers some or all of Bedford Park, Fordham, Kingsbridge, Norwood, Bronx Park, and University Heights, can be reached at (718) 220-5843 or via e-mail.

 

The Domestic Violence Officer for the 50th Precinct, which covers some or all of Kingsbridge, Marble Hill, Riverdale, Fieldston, and Spuyten Duyvil, can be reached at (718) 543-6072 or via e-mail.

 

The Domestic Violence Officer for the 46th Precinct, which covers some or all of Fordham, University Heights, Morris Heights, and Mount Hope, can be reached at (718) 220-5254 or via e-mail

 

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on X @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.