NYPD officer shot in subway station heads home

NEW YORK

Detective /*Kevin Herlihy*/, an 18-year veteran, was shot Tuesday during a gun battle in a Manhattan subway station. He left New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia Presbyterian around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and immediately headed to his Lynbrook, Long Island, home to see his three children, including a 13-month-old daughter.

"I just want to go home and wish my wife a happy Valentine's Day," he said.

Herlihy, 47, followed shooting suspect /*Michael McBride*/ into the subway station in /*Hamilton Heights*/ around 4:15 p.m. Tuesday. McBride opened fire and was shot dead.

Herlihy is being praised for his actions in dealing with the violent suspect, who allegedly shot his girlfriend's 25-year-old daughter in the head earlier in the day. She remains in critical condition.

Officers searching for the 52-year-old McBride found him concealing a gun inside a newspaper as he entered the 145th Street station.

Herlihy is part of a squad in Queens that hunts wanted felons, and was dressed in plainclothes while tracking McBride near the man's Harlem apartment. Police say McBride spotted the officers and responded by shooting Herlihy in the shoulder. The officer was able to return fire, fatally striking McBride in the chest.

"Fortunately, we had another miraculous outcome today, with an officer shot at close range, just 10 feet away," NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said. "He not only survived, but was able to stop his assailant from shooting anyone else."

McBride had been on parole for robbery and had an extensive criminal record, police said.

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