A New York City police officer and an innocent bystander were both shot after a suspect allegedly robbed multiple stores on Tuesday, according to city officials.
The suspect, Gary Worthy, 57, is on parole for life for possession of a firearm and has 17 prior convictions including murder, robbery, burglary and drug possession, according to the NYPD.
His last arrest was six days ago for felony drug possession and resisting arrest.
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A New York City police officer was shot by a career criminal in Queens, Mayor Eric Adams announced during a news conference Tuesday night. (Mayor Eric Adams via X)
During a news conference, authorities said they responded to a 911 call about an armed robbery inside the Village Market grocery store at 5:35 p.m.
The victims told responding officers that Worthy entered the store and announced the robbery, then demanded money while threatening employees and customers inside with a black revolver. He reportedly fired one shot during the robbery and fled south.
Shortly after officers received Worthy’s description and broadcast it over the radio, responding officers were flagged down by a witness who told them that a man had robbed a smoke shop at gunpoint and a bullet. Shouted.
Officers were able to match the description of the previous robbery.
A gun was recovered from the scene of the shooting on Tuesday night. (NYPD News)
Officers then ordered Worthy to stop near the corner of Jamaica Avenue and 160th Street around 6:30 p.m., but he fled, drawing his weapon, injuring NYPD Officer Rich Wong, according to police. done
Wong shot Worthy, who was later pronounced dead at Jamaica Hospital, police said.
A 26-year-old woman was also shot in the crossfire, but both she and Wong are expected to make a full recovery.
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New York City police at the scene of an alleged robbery and shooting in Queens. (Peter Gerber)
Mayor Eric Adams took it. Social media Expressing his distaste for the criminal justice system after the shooting.
“While we are grateful that he will recover, we are also outraged that a despicable criminal who previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter and has 7 arrests since 2021,” Adams said. Tonight was free to commit two robberies and ultimately shoot two people.”
Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benefit Association, also criticized the criminal justice system during the news conference, saying NYPD officers are tired of being assaulted.
“He didn’t know that when he ran out of the 103 station house when he heard a robbery, he didn’t know that he was about to confront a brash, dangerous career criminal who was about to kill New York City. Didn’t think twice, police officer,” Hendry said.
Mayor Eric Adams visits shooting victims at Jamaica Hospital. (Mayor Eric Adams via X)
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“You can count on New York City police officers to do our jobs. We will continue to take dangerous criminals off the streets. We have your back,” Hendry told New Yorkers.
“I can tell you who doesn’t have your back… our criminal justice system. It lets us down every single day. Seventeen arrests on life parole, 7 arrests on life parole. What about life parole? I mean? We’d all agree that you’re on parole for life, but it’s not like our criminal system is broken from top to bottom Sick and tired of being shot, we need all of New York to demand change in our criminal justice system.
The incident is still under investigation.
