Suspect arraigned in shooting of 2 NYPD officers on Lower East Side
LOWER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) -- A suspect was arraigned late Friday after two NYPD sergeants were injured by gunfire on the Lower East Side while responding to a robbery the day before.
Joshua Dorsett, 22, is charged with two counts of attempted murder of a police officer as well as robbery and criminal possession of a weapon. He is due back in court on Aug. 7.
The incident happened Thursday afternoon as police intercepted Dorsett after he held nearly 20 people at gunpoint during a mahjong session. He allegedly stole various possessions from the players, including purses, bookbags and cash.
Before the shooting, Dorsett was seen on camera counting cash and attempting to buy a change of clothes but was unsuccessful.
Sgt. Carl Johnson, 43, was shot in the groin and was discharged from the hospital on Saturday. He is a 16-year veteran of the force and serves as the precinct's public-safety sergeant.
Sgt. Christopher Leap, 34, was discharged from the hospital Thursday night after being grazed in the left leg by a bullet.
Leap, who works as a neighborhood coordination sergeant and has been on the force for 11 years, was accompanied by his wife and mother as he was released from the hospital to cheering officers.
Both sergeants are expected to make a full recovery.
The shooting happened after police received a report around 4:15 p.m. Thursday about a man armed with a gun robbing women of their purses inside a mahjong parlor on the second floor of 91 Canal St.
Surveillance video obtained by Eyewitness News shows the armed robber inside the parlor.
A special-operations team from the Fifth Precinct happened to be at 95 Canal St., investigating an illegal smoke shop when they heard the screams of robbery victims from two doors away.
Johnson, of the Fifth Precinct, and Leap, of the Seventh Precinct, spotted Dorsett about five blocks away in front of 167 Eldridge St.
With the help of two other officers, the sergeants were able to catch Dorsett and pin him against a car, but he refused to give up his hands. Instead of giving officers his right hand, Dorsett clung to his .45 caliber pistol, according to NYPD officials.
A struggle for the weapon ensued between the suspect and the officers. Dorsett was able to get off one shot, which went through Johnson's thigh, and grazed Leap's leg.
"Our officers were out there doing the job we ask them to do, and we are very grateful that they're going to be OK," NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban said.
The officers did not return fire.
NYPD officials said Dorsett has three prior arrests, with his most recent in 2022 for criminal possession of a controlled substance in Manhattan. They said he is a known gang member.
Police are investigating the location where the robbery occurred, and say gambling may be linked to it.
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