A gunman was shot and killed by a cop at the Ocean Bay apartments on Beach Channel Drive in Arverne on Thursday, Dec. 29, after the two were engaged in a violent struggle, according to the NYPD.
A sergeant and two officers from the neighborhood safety team at the 101st Precinct in Far Rockaway entered the lobby of 439 Beach 56th St. at around 8 p.m. on Dec. 29, when they encountered numerous men.
“They were investigating numerous smells emanating from inside the lobby and they were taking a look at what they were doing,” NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said.
Two of the men ran out of the lobby and the cops gave chase, according to Chell. One was quickly apprehended and found to be in possession of narcotics. The officers gave chase to the second suspect along Beach Channel Drive. One of the officers caught up with the suspect and a violent struggle ensued.
“We have some internal video that shows a violent struggle for about 20 seconds,” Chell said, adding that the suspect pulled out a loaded .44 caliber semi-automatic handgun and the officer fired one shot that struck him in the torso.
The suspect did not fire a shot before he collapsed onto the sidewalk, according to Chell.
“At this point, our officers rendered life-saving techniques and both the perpetrator and the officer were removed to [an] area hospital,” Chell said.
EMS rushed them to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center where the suspect was later pronounced dead. The officer was treated for minor injuries from the altercation and was released later in the evening, according to an NYPD spokesman.
The identity of the deceased is pending family notification and the investigation continues.
