Police shooting in Harlem: NYPD officer killed, another injured in shootout in response to domestic incident in Harlem
They are the fourth and fifth New York Police Department officers to be shot in the city this month, according to officials.
“We mourn the loss of a heroic officer – a son, husband and friend. Only 22 years old, Officer Jason Rivera was murdered in the line of duty.” NYPD said in a tweet.
The incident took place when officers were answering an inbound call at 6:15 p.m. in Harlem, officials said. A woman called 911 to report that she was having a dispute with one of her sons in her apartment, NYPD Detective Superintendent James Essig said.
Soon after, three NYPD officers arrived at the apartment and met the mother and another son. They both directed two of the officers to a room at the back of the apartment where her other son – the suspect – was waiting, Essig said.
“The door opened and multiple shots were fired, hitting both officers – one died and the other was in Harlem hospital in a critical condition,” Essig said.
Police said the third officer shot the suspect, identified as Lashawn McNeil, in the hand and head as he tried to flee. McNeil, 47, is in critical condition at the hospital, officials said.
Earlier, a law enforcement source told CNN that a civilian believed to be involved in the incident was killed, but that was not the case.
The mayor said it was an attack on the city
“It’s our city against murderers,” said Adams, who has only been in office a month. “We’re going to need everyone on the same page to complete this task,” he said.
“Let me be clear, there are no gun manufacturers in New York City. We don’t make guns here. How do we get rid of thousands of guns on the street and they still find their way into the City? New York City in the hands of murderers?” he said.
When Adams, a former police captain, was inaugurated on January 1, he stressed that he would not let New York become “a city of disorder.”
However, his tenure has been marked by a series of high-visibility cases that have highlighted the complex challenge of crime in the city.
While not close to the rate of the early 1990s, it has been on an upward trend in recent months. In November — the most recent month for which the city has released data — the crime rate was up 21.3 percent year-over-year, according to the NYPD.
During the Democratic primary campaign, public safety became a top issue for the candidates, and Adams thought he was uniquely qualified to confront it, with the service of Mr. he over 20 years with the NYPD.
“Mission one is to deal with gun violence in our city,” he said at his inauguration. “You don’t start the new year with violence; that’s unacceptable.”
In addition to police shootings, the mayor has faced other violent attacks this month.
Police said the subway incident was a random attack. The suspect was charged with second-degree murder after he turned himself in to police less than an hour later.
The gun used to shoot the gun was stolen in 2017
On Friday night, she said the Harlem tragedy was “beyond comprehension.”
Sewell added: “Please pray for our officer who is lying on his deathbed and fighting for his life. And every day appreciate the bravery and sacrifice of these men and women. women of the NYPD.”
The gun used in the shooting was a Glock 45 with a high-capacity magazine that can hold up to 40 additional rounds of ammunition, police said.
It was stolen from Baltimore in 2017, and the NYPD said it is working with the Joint Firearms Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to continue tracking the gun.
Adams called for support from national leaders.
“We need Washington to get involved and act now to stop the flow of guns in New York City and cities like New York,” the mayor said. “We are all witnesses.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James released a statement in response to the shooting, saying the entire state is in mourning.
“As we await the facts, my office can assert jurisdiction over this matter. We pray for the safety of the police and our community,” James said.
CNN’s Shimon Prokupecz and Rob Frehse contributed to this report.
