A shot out between 3 New York police officers and a civilian in a Harlem apartment on Friday left one of the law enforcers dead and the other in critical condition. Police reported that the gunman was the first to open fire, forcing officers to respond.
A third officer neutralized the gunman after shooting him, leaving him critical. The police officers responded to a 911 call at about 6:15 of domestic violence.
Upon their arrival, they found the woman and one of the sons standing in front of the Harlem apartment.
The suspect was hiding in the rear bedroom and opened fire at the two officers approaching the narrow hallway next to the bedroom.
The suspect did not fire at them once, but numerous times, this left Officer Jason Rivera, 22, dead at the scene while the second officer was in critical condition.
According to the police, the third officer shot Lashawn Mcneil, 47, first in the arm, followed by the head.
People went on to their social media to mourn the loss of the police officer and wish for the quick recovery of the second officer.
Mayor Eric Adams plans to use his office to fight gun violence. He condemned the incident saying that it was a felony against all New Yorkers.
The NYPD, in their tweet post, expressed their loss. Jason Rivera was a hero who died doing his work. They vowed to honor his legacy.
The gun used by the gunman was stolen in Baltimore in 2017. The shooting marked the fifth time people have shot at NYPD officers.
Rivera’s dream was to improve the relationship of people in the community. His dream still lives on.
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