The shooting happened at around 6:30 p.m. at 85 West Burnside Avenue in the /*Morris Heights*/ section.
Off-duty officer Ivan Marcano's girlfriend told him that she saw an alleged robbery in progress as they were driving down the street. Three people were reportedly robbing one person. The officer approached the group and when he got closer and identified himself as an officer, he was shot in the chest by one of the three suspects. There was an exchange of gunfire and the suspects fled.
Officer Marcano got into his vehicle, and his girlfriend attempted to drie him to the hospital when they saw the suspects again. While holding his hand over his bullet wound, he fired at the suspects and struck and killed one.
"In a remarkable display of marksmanship, and cool under fire, Officer Marcano fired hitting the suspect in the head. He died on the sidewalk next to the Mustang," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said.
There are two suspects still being sought.
"Officer Marcano had fired one handed as he used his other hand to apply pressure to his wound," Kelly said.
Fortunately, the Officer Marcano spotted a parked ambulance and was able to get inside and he was rushed to Bronx Lebanon Hospital where he is listed in stable condition.
He is assigned to the Transit Bureau. He was not wearing a bullet proof vest because he was not on duty.
The suspect's gun was recovered at the scene. During the robbery, the suspects took $80 in what appeared to be a random crime.
"God was with us, and God was with Officer Marcano, who once again, the people who work in the NYPD are there to protect us, they put their lives on the line," Mayor Bloomberg said.
Council member Fernando Cabrera told Eyewitness News that half a million dollars in security cameras have been installed there. He praised the officer for caring enough to get involved.
COP SHOT, the acronym for Citizens Outraged at Police Being Shot, has posted its $10,000 cash reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects wanted in connection with the Wednesday night shooting of an off-duty NYPD officer in the Bronx. Anyone with information is asked to call the 24-hour hotline, 1-800-COP-SHOT. All information is kept confidential and no names are taken.
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