Robbery suspect fatally shot by police in Brooklyn

Jim Dolan Image
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
One suspect dead, another on the run in Brooklyn home invasion
Jim Dolan has the story.

BENSONHURST, Brooklyn (WABC) -- An apparent robbery suspect was shot to death by police in Bensonhurst Monday evening.

A family of seven was held in their home by two men in Brooklyn. One of those suspects tried to get away, but faced off with police and was killed. The other suspect remains at large.

"I was in my living room watching TV. I heard a big boom. I look out my window and think nothing of it until I see everybody coming in," a neighbor said.

Police said they responded to a robbery in progress at a home on 78th Street around 6:45 p.m.

New York Police Department sources said two armed men entered the house posing as work men, both wearing construction uniforms and hard hats. When they got inside, they pulled their guns and rounded up the residents of the home including seven adults and a baby, then started robbing the place.

One resident was able to text a friend. The friend called 911.

Eventually trying to escape, one armed suspect kicked out an air conditioner and ran down the fire escape. Police said he hopped a fence and ran right into an NYPD sergeant and a police officer.

When they came upon the suspect, police knew he had a gun. The suspect pulled it and aimed it at the sergeant, police said, and was shot and killed.

"After scaling the fence on to Stillwell Avenue, the suspect was confronted by a uniformed sergeant. The suspect pointed a revolver at the sergeant. The sergeant and another uniformed police officer discharged their service weapons. The male suspect was struck twice," said Chief James O'Neill, NYPD.

A gun was recovered at the scene.

"It was close. It was as the suspect came over the wall the sergeant was right there so he actually had to push his arm away. It was close," O'Neill said, responding to how close the police officer and the sergeant were to the suspect.

That gunman died from his injuries, and again, another suspect is still on the loose.

The suspect is described as in his 30s, heavy-set, and was possibly wearing a construction-type helmet.