Following an early morning police-involved shooting in the Bronx’s 40th precinct on Sunday, NYPD Chief of Department, Terence Monahan provided a written and video statement on the incident, prefacing his remarks by saying that the information provided was preliminary and subject to change, as the investigation is still ongoing.

 

Monahan said that at approximately 12.35 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 21, a sergeant and two police officers, who were all in uniform were patrolling in the area of East 153rd Street and Third Avenue in the Bronx.

 

The three officers observed two men spray paint graffiti on 677 Elton Avenue in the Melrose section of the Bronx. The officers stopped their vehicle and approached the individuals who both fled on foot.

 

After a brief foot chase, one of the officers grabbed one of the suspects. Monahan said, “As the officer struggled with the man in an attempt to arrest him, the suspect pulled out [a] semi-automatic handgun and fired at least three times at the officers.”

In the #Bronx this morning with @NYPDChiefPatrol and the @NYPD40Pct commander to provide a preliminary update on the police-involved shooting. pic.twitter.com/XFrJWM121Y

— Chief Terence Monahan (@NYPDChiefofDept) February 21, 2021

 

He added “It was then that all three officers engaged the man returning fire – striking him numerous times.” The man was taken to Lincoln Hospital where he is in critical condition. A .22 caliber semi-automatic handgun was recovered at the scene of the shooting.

 

He said the suspect’s gun does appear to have been shot and damaged during the exchange of gunfire. Monahan said he and the department’s force investigation division had viewed the body-worn cameras of all three officers.

 

He said that as the investigation continues, detectives are still searching for the second suspect who fled the scene. The officers were all taken to a local hospital to be evaluated and are uninjured.

 

Anyone with information with regard to the 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 CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @ NYPDTips.

 

All calls are strictly confidential.