NEW YORK – Two New York City Police Department sergeants were injured in a shooting in Lower Manhattan on Thursday afternoon.
Both individuals are expected to be okay and a suspect has been arrested.
NYPD officers injured while responding to report of armed robbery
According to police, officers were called to the second floor of 91 Canal St. in Chinatown for a report of a man stealing women’s bags at gunpoint. Police said the location is believed to be a mahjong parlor where gambling is possible.
When officers arrived on scene, the victims told them the suspect had fled north toward Delancey Street.
Seven minutes later, police said, officers spotted a man matching the suspect’s description on Eldridge Street. Two uniformed sergeants pulled the man over and attempted to arrest him, but police said he pulled a loaded gun from his pants pocket.
“They had him on top of the car, the three of them, and the guy still had his hand down here, so they put him on top of the car and then I heard the shots, boom boom,” said witness Francisco Huayta.
According to police, there was a struggle over the weapon and the suspect fired one shot. According to police, the bullet struck a sergeant in the groin and then grazed the second sergeant in the leg.
The suspect was subsequently taken into custody. Police said a loaded .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol was found on the spot.
NYPD sergeants expected to make full recovery from shooting
Both sergeants were taken to Bellevue Hospital for treatment and are expected to make a full recovery. NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban said both sergeants were awake and in good spirits when he visited them at the hospital.
“Your officers have once again confronted a violent criminal who had no problem carrying an illegal weapon on the streets. As a result, two of our officers are in the hospital with gunshot wounds and are lucky to be alive,” Caban said.
Police said the sergeant who suffered a graze wound was released Thursday evening, while the other sergeant was being held overnight for observation.
Mayor Eric Adams said the sergeants did not fire at the suspect at any point during the incident.
The names of the sergeants have not been released, but police said one is a 43-year-old public safety sergeant from the Fifth Precinct who has been with the NYPD for about 16 years, and the other is a 34-year-old community coordination sergeant from the Seventh Precinct who has been with the NYPD for about 11 years.
Suspect identified as known gang member
Police identified the suspect as 22-year-old Joseph Dorsett of Lower Manhattan. They said he is a known gang member.
According to police, Dorsett has been arrested three times before, the last time being in 2022 when he was arrested for criminal possession of a controlled substance.
According to police, Dorsett is currently on probation and had a meeting with his probation officer on Thursday morning.
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