America
New York police officer shot in head while patrolling
New York, May 3
A New York City police officer
was shot in the head as he tried to inquire about a suspect's actions
during his patrol on the street.
The officer is now in stable
condition in a hospital and the investigation of the event is under way,
according to the officials.
The shooting on Saturday evening
came as the country is going through a new round of tensions between
African Americans and police forces.
Around 6:15 p.m., one of the
New York Police Department (NYPD) officers was shot while operating an
unmarked police car and patrolling with his partner in the borough of
Queens, Xinhua news agency cited New York City Police Commissioner
Williams Bratton as saying at a press conference.
Officer Brian
Moore was seated in the driver's seat and Officer Erik Jansen was in the
passenger's seat when they observed a male, black, in his 30s, walking
and adjusting an object in his waistband.
Moore positioned the
vehicle behind the suspect and inquired about the suspect's actions. The
male immediately removed a firearm from his waistband and turned in the
direction of the officers and deliberately fired several times into the
vehicle, striking Moore in the head.
Both officers were still seated in the vehicle and did not have an opportunity to get out or return fire, Bratton said.
Moore
was then rushed to Jamaica Hospital, while officers on the scene
searched for the suspect. The suspect, identified as Demetrius
Blackwell, was located and taken into custody later.
Demetrius
Blackwell is 35 years old and has an extensive arrest history, which
includes criminal possession of a weapon and robbery, the commissioner
said.
"It is a painful day for all of us -- it is a painful day
for all New Yorkers, it's a painful day for all members of the NYPD,"
said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
He said Moore comes from a police family as his father and uncle had both retired as sergeants with the department.