BY ROBERT POZARYCKI, CRISTABELLE TUMOLA AND ALINA SURIEL
Updated Monday, May 4, 9:30 a.m.
A police officer remains in critical but stable condition after being shot while on duty in Queens Village Saturday — and the man who allegedly shot him remains locked up, according to officials.
The shooting took place at about 6:15 p.m. in the vicinity of 212th Street and 104th Road.
According to police, the injured officer — P.O. Brian Moore, 25, a five-year NYPD veteran from Long Island — and his partner, P.O. Erik Jansen, were in plain clothes and patrolling the area in an unmarked vehicle when they observed the suspected shooter — Demetrius Blackwell, 35 — acting suspiciously.
Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said Blackwell motioned toward his waist as if concealing a firearm.
Moore, who was driving the unmarked police cruiser, rolled up behind Blackwell and inquired as to his actions. Bratton said Blackwell immediately turned toward the vehicle, pulled out a firearm and fired at least two shots, striking Moore in the face and head.
Jansen, who was not injured, radioed for help, and officers in a responding patrol car rushed Moore to Jamaica Hospital. The injured officer was immediately brought into surgery and will be admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit. Reportedly, a prognosis for his recovery won’t be known for up to 48 hours.
The NY Daily News reported Monday that Moore is in a medically induced coma.
Mayor Bill de Blasio, Commissioner Bratton and Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown visited Moore’s family at Jamaica Hospital Saturday night and later addressed members of the media about the shooting.
“Our hearts are with his family, his loved ones,” de Blasio said. “Our hearts are with [Moore’s] extended family: the men and women of the NYPD.”
Blackwell ran from the location, but police, aided by several witnesses, stopped him several blocks away on 212th Place, officials said. The weapon, however, has not yet been recovered.
U/D Queens: 212 St & 104 Ave NYPD Officer shot in the head in critical condition. Perp in custody. pic.twitter.com/NU9Q8RKcJ5
— NYC Scanner (@NYScanner) May 3, 2015
Police noted that Blackwell has a previous criminal record that included arrests for robbery and weapons possession. According to NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision records, he was released from prison in June 2008 after serving time for a second-degree attempted murder conviction.
Blackwell was ordered held without bail during his arraignment hearing Sunday on charges of first-degree attempted murder on a police officer, aggravated assault on a police officer, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree assault. If convicted, Brown said, Blackwell faces 25 years to life behind bars.
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