6 NYPD officers fire approximately 70 shots during shootout in Bushwick

BUSHWICK (WABC) -- A suspect is recovering in the hospital after he was shot by police during a running shootout in Brooklyn Friday morning.

At 1:15 a.m. in Bushwick, NYPD officers fired approximately 70 shots at Jerrol Harris, of Brooklyn, eventually striking him once in the leg, as they were chasing in connection with an attempted car theft. Harris, 27, recovering at Kings County Hospital in East Flatbush.

Harris is charged with attempted murder, assault and criminal use of a firearm related to car theft incident. In regards to the shooting at police officers, he was charged with attempted murder of a police officer, reckless endangerment, menacing a police officer and criminal possession of a weapon.

Harris was originally wanted for shooting 52-year-old Leon Faison, who was loading up his car parked outside his home on Madison Street for a trip with his family.

Police said Faison opened the rear trunk hatch and discovered Harris inside, attempting to steal it. Harris jumped out, shot Faison in the arm and ran away.

Even though he was shot, Faison chased after the suspect until he encountered two officers. Faison told them, "I've been shot" and gave them a detailed description -- including that Harris was wearing bright-colored pants.

According to police, eight officers were looking for Harris several blocks away. Harris saw them, ducked behind a parked car and opened fire. Four of the officers, some of them completely exposed, returned about 40 shots at Harris as he hid behind the car. One of Harrison's shots hit the officers' unmarked police cruiser.

He then ran a little further and encountered two other police officers at the corner. He shot at them, and they return fired at him, firing about 30 shots, police said. Harrison was struck once in the leg.

Harris emptied all 11 shots in his .40 caliber Taurus Millennium automatic firearm, reported stolen in Orange County, Florida, during the shootout, police said. It was recovered at the scene.

Neighbors said violence is not new to Bushwick, but they are not accustomed to so many bullets.

"I couldn't believe how long it was going on," said Caulk. "It just kept coming and kept coming and I was like, 'is this really happening.'"

Charges against Harris are pending, including attempted murder of the officers. He has 12 prior arrests, including gun possession, drugs, and four robbery arrests.

Harris and Faison were taken to nearby hospitals, where they're listed in stable condition.