Police shoot suspect in car as toddler sat in back seat in Crown Heights, Brooklyn
CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn (WABC) -- A police-involved shooting in Brooklyn ended with a man shot and killed, and a woman injured, according to NYPD officials.
Officers first responded to 81 North Portland Ave. in Fort Greene just before 3 p.m. for reports of shots fired, and were met by a witness who described a black Honda fleeing the scene with a Mississippi license plate dangling by one screw.
Officials say members of the NYPD located the vehicle on Fulton Street and Washington Avenue, heading eastbound on Fulton Street.
They say a police chase ensued when the vehicle discovered they were being pursued, cutting through traffic and running red lights in effort to escape.
"They start speeding up. They start cutting through blocks, through Bed- Stuy. They're running red lights. Our officers are closely pursuing," said NYPD Chief Jeffrey Maddrey.
Police were eventually able to stop the car, which got stuck behind traffic on Utica Avenue in the Crown Heights section.
Officers exited their vehicle with their guns drawn, commanding the driver and passenger to show their hands.
NYPD officials say a 21-year-old man in the front passenger seat tried to exit, but couldn't open the door all the way due to a double-parked car. They say the suspect had a gun in his hand and pointed it at officers. That's when officers fired as many 19 shots, striking the passenger and a driver, a 23-year-old woman, who got out of the car and tried to run.
At one point, officials say one of the officers started yelling "baby, baby," after locating a child, a 3-year-old girl, in the back seat of the car, and ordered the other officer to stop firing. The girl was not shot and was safely removed from the vehicle and taken to the hospital for evaluation.
"My heart's breaking. But they had a little hoodie. They were looking around. They were just scared. It was horrible," said witness Sarah Iseroff.
The woman, who is believed to be the mother of the child, was taken into custody after a brief chase on foot. She suffered two gunshot wounds to the right thigh. She has not been charged yet, but police say she drove through several red lights, all while the child in the back had no car seat.
Officials say the man who pointed his weapon, was shot multiple times and later died. The NYPD showed Eyewitness News body camera images of the suspect pointing his weapon directly at the officer.
The cops involved in the incident were taken to a local hospital, but were not hurt by gunfire.
NYPD officials say the semi-automatic weapon recovered at the scene had a capacity for 30 rounds. Anything higher than 10 is illegal in New York. It's not clear yet if the suspect fired any shots.
As for the man who was killed, police say he was wanted for a "vicious" homicide that happened on March 28, 2024, on Belmont and Euclid avenues in East New York, and had been on the run ever since. Police say the 21-year-old suspect walked up to a 21-year-old victim and shot him multiple times in the torso. The victim died at the hospital.
An investigation is underway.
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