An off-duty New York Police Department (NYPD) officer was injured and a suspect was killed in a shootout outside a nightclub early Thursday morning.
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said in a press conference on Thursday that at around 3 a.m. local time Thursday, NYPD officers from the 114th precinct responded to a 911 call regarding an officer who was shot near 57th Street and Northern Boulevard in Queens.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found two men lying on the ground. Both of the men had been shot, Shea said.
"One of the males was identified as an off-duty NYPD lieutenant," Shea said. "Preliminarily, he sustained multiple gunshot wounds about the body."
According to Shea, the other man was believed to be the "suspected shooter" in the incident. There was a semi-automatic firearm discovered next to the suspected shooter's body, police said. The NYPD posted a picture of the recovered gun on Twitter.
During the press conference, Shea explained that while the investigation is still in its early stages, they believe that the off-duty officer was at a nightclub "located in the vicinity of the shooting" and when he was leaving the club, he was confronted by a group of "armed individuals wearing masks."
"We believe these individuals were attempted to rob the officer. Possibly of jewelry that the officer was wearing," Shea said. "Moments later there was an exchange of gunfire between the officer and at least one of the perpetrators."
According to Shea, other suspects reportedly involved in the incident fled the scene shortly after the gunfire was exchanged.
After the shooting, the suspect and the off-duty officer were both transported to a nearby hospital. According to Shea, the off-duty officer is currently in critical but stable condition. The suspect sustained gunshot wounds to his chest and stomach, was pronounced dead shortly after the shooting.
Shea did not release the identity of the suspect and said that officers are continuing to search for others involved in the incident.
Shea praised FDNY paramedics for their efforts in responding to the incident and said that he thinks the outcome of the incident would be different "if not for the professionalism of those FDNY paramedics."
"He is lucky to be alive," Shea said while speaking about the injured NYPD officer. "So everyone should keep him in your thoughts and prayers tonight. We would have a very different outcome if not for the FDNY Paramedics that did incredible work on the street to get him [to Elmhurst Hospital]."
Newsweek was directed to Shea's press conference after reaching out to the NYPD for comment.
