Suspect shot and killed by NYPD detective in East Village

EAST VILLAGE (WABC) -- A 22-year-old robbery suspect died Saturday after he was shot once by a detective during a violent struggle on Manhattan's East Village, police said.

The stretch of East 6th Street between Ave A and B was closed Saturday night as detectives continued to investigate what led to the shooting.

Investigators say a struggle between two veteran officers and the suspect inside a transitional home ended with both officers being taken to the hospital and the suspect dead.

A single piercing gunshot suddenly shattered the serenity of the East Village neighborhood as dozens of police flooded East 6th Street Saturday afternoon.

"My neighbor and I came outside to go out, and we were surrounded by police, and there was emergency vehicles," says eyewitness Bryan Keller.

Investigators say two detectives were serving a warrant to a 24-year-old man wanted for allegedly robbing and assaulting a women just days ago, when the suspect took off down a fire escape from the sixth floor of a transitional home, but didn't make it very far.

Officers cut the man off in a first floor hallway where investigators say a violent struggle lasted for more than five minutes. The suspect struck both officers repeatedly in the head with a walkie-talkie before one detective opened fire.

Both detectives taken to Bellevue Hospital with lacerations to the head. The suspect was treated on-scene and taken to Beth Israel Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

"You saw them bringing out somebody they were doing CPR on," says eyewitness Edward Arrocha.

For now, police aren't releasing the suspects name until all his family members have been notified. However, a small group from the community held a candlelight vigil.