In the early hours of Monday in Queens, New York, a routine traffic stop took a harrowing turn when two NYPD officers were injured in an exchange of gunfire with a 19-year-old individual who was riding a scooter in the wrong direction down a one-way street. The altercation occurred at approximately 1:40 a.m. near 82nd St. and 23rd Ave. in East Elmhurst.
Both officers, whose identities have not been disclosed, are presently in stable condition at Elmhurst Hospital. One officer sustained an injury to the leg, while the other was protected from serious harm by a bullet-resistant vest. Despite his own distress, the officer wearing the vest promptly administered a tourniquet to his partner to reduce bleeding.
The suspect, identified as Bernardo Raul Castro Mata, suffered a gunshot wound to his right ankle and was taken to New-York Presbyterian Hospital Queens for surgery. Investigations led to the recovery of the weapon used in the shooting. Mata, a Venezuelan national who entered the United States illegally in the previous year, was residing at a Queens migrant shelter that had been repurposed from a former hotel.
NYPD Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry and NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban commended the officers for their response during the press conference held at the hospital, highlighting the violence that NYPD officers face and their perseverance in ensuring the safety of city residents.
Source: New York Daily News
