Man fatally shot by police at Astoria home

ASTORIA (WABC) -- People were outside enjoying the beautiful weather when they heard the gunshots and ducked for cover. The incident happened in front of a small brown house on 38th Street in Astoria Saturday morning when police say an elderly man pointed a shotgun at officers.

Bryan Garcia was playing basketball across the street with his friend Eric Soto at the time.

"He came out with the rifle pointing at them, and then they said 'drop it', and they shot him twice," says Garcia, "he pointed the gun at the cops."

It all started with a 911 call from the home on 38th Street. The caller told dispatch 'I shot my daughter and dog'. When police arrived, an 86-year-old man armed with a shotgun opened the front door. Police say they ordered him to drop the weapon. Instead of following orders, the man instead pointed the gun at police, and that is when an officer shot the man in the chest. The officer was rushed to Mount Sinai where he died.

Inside the home, police found a 65-year-old woman with a gunshot wound to her head, and a Yorkshire Terrier with a neck injury.

"All I hear is 'bong, bong, bong, bong, bong', so I got on the floor," said Garcia, "I knew it was gunshots."

Garcia says he rented an apartment from the 86-year-old man who was shot by police.

"He's a really nice guy. I see him pushing his shopping cart going to the supermarket. I even see his daughter walking his dog. Something that you never think would happen over here," adds Garcia.

Both Garcia and Soto think that police did the right thing in the situation, because the man would have shot back.

"He could have fired at the park, and god forbid; maybe one of us could have gotten hurt," added Soto.

The 65-year-old woman is in critical condition at Elmhurst Hospital.

The ASPCA is treating the Yorkshire Terrier, who is expected to be okay.

Police have not yet released any names.