Shootout with police leaves 1 dead, 1 in custody; narcotics operation in Manhattan: sources
INWOOD, Manhattan (WABC) -- One person is dead and another is in police custody after a narcotics operation in Manhattan ended in a shootout with law enforcement.
Officials say the incident happened around 8:40 p.m. in the Inwood section on Friday
"This is a drug dealer-invested street, Vermilya. Period," a witness said.
Police say it started as an undercover joint narcotics operation between federal partners and the NYPD.
Jose Jimenez lives next door to where the shootout happened.
"De un pronto, un titero teo en el hall," Jimenez said. "Y el police le dice, es la polica para, es la polica."
He described the gunshots he heard in the hallway and then police telling his neighbor to stop shooting at them.
Sources say two suspects fired at police as they were moving the investigation into the first floor of an apartment building.
Gunshots were exchanged between both law enforcement and the two suspects.
One suspect was killed as the second suspect tried to barricade himself inside the apartment.
No members of law enforcement were injured during this incident and the second suspect was eventually taken into custody.
Two guns, one belonging to each of the suspects, were recovered at the scene.
The details of the shootout did not shock residents but made them think about the bigger problems impacting their neighborhood.
"It's not a surprise. it's a reflection of the bad things that have been going on in this area and in New York City as a whole," resident George said.
Residents also had a conversation about the solutions to help fight violence.
"People are trying to find a way out of poverty, and it's one of the easiest ways of doing it, but unfortunately it leads to things like this occurring, where you can lose your life over it," resident Miguel said.
Charges against the suspect in police custody are pending.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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