NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A teen gang member shot and wounded himself and an NYPD officer during a struggle in the Bronx on Tuesday night, police said.
The shooting unfolded as six uniformed officers responded to a "large, disorderly group" on Lorillard Place, near Third Avenue, in the Belmont section around 9:30 p.m.
When the officers arrived at the scene, the 16-year-old suspect wouldn’t take his hands out of his pockets, according to police.
During a struggle with officers, the teen reached for a gun and a single shot rang out, police said. The bullet struck the teen in his groin and the officer in his right leg.
None of the officers fired a shot, police said.
The officer, a four-year veteran of the department, was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital. He was released early Wednesday morning; officers lined a sidewalk and applauded him as he was wheeled out.
The unidentified teen suspect is also expected to survive. Charges against him were pending.
Chief of Detectives James Essig said the suspect’s gun had been stolen from South Carolina in 2020.
The teen has known gang connections and was on probation for a gun arrest at age 14.
Mayor Eric Adams said the flow of illegal guns has to stop.
“There is a clear signal on the streets that it’s all right to carry a gun in the city of New York,” Adams said. “What is it going to take before we realize that we are endangering the lives of children by allowing children to carry guns that they are using on children?”
NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said she’s frustrated too.
“I’ve been privileged to lead the NYPD for 18 days, and it is the second time I’ve had to come to the hospital for an officer shot,” she said.
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