Off-duty NYPD officer fatally shoots man carrying firearm in Washington Heights
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, Manhattan (WABC) -- An off-duty police officer fatally shot a 30-year-old armed suspect riding a moped in Washington Heights on Sunday.
Officials say two men on mopeds approached the off-duty officer just before 9:45 p.m. Sunday on West 173rd Street and asked if they knew a certain person's name, saying "does Steve live here?"
One of the men pulled a gun and the off-duty officer "drew his firearm, discharged multiple rounds," Deputy Chief Eric Pagan, an executive officer of the Patrol Borough of Manhattan North, said.
In video from a resident, you can hear someone on the street saying "shots fired."
The 30-year-old man was pronounced dead at Harlem Hospital.
Police believe he is an undocumented migrant from the Dominican Republic who crossed the border in El Paso, Texas June 2024.
The second suspect fled on a moped and is being sought.
The pair was wanted in at least three other gunpoint robberies in a 20-minute period on Sunday night. In one of the holdups, police say they mugged a married couple of their jewelry.
One neighbor says gunfire isn't surprising for the area.
"There was a shootout here as well. Block has gotten bad," said the neighbor.
But another resident said it's usually quiet and safe here.
"I'm a little shocked actually... makes me feel less safe," Jason Robinson said.
Officers recovered a loaded 9 mm firearm at the crime scene.
The shooting marks the second fatal shooting involving an off-duty officer in three days.
A 44-year-old man was fatally shot by an off-duty officer Friday night on Staten Island.
Sunday night's incident is also reminiscent of another shooting in Washington Heights last month, when an off-duty ICE officer was shot in the face while being robbed by two suspects on mopeds.
Due to the similarities, the NYPD and federal law enforcement are looking into any possible connections between the suspects in the two incidents, and whether they are part of the same loosely-connected robbery crew.
The two undocumented immigrants last month were charged both federally, for possession of ammunition by an illegal alien, and in criminal court with attempted murder chargesfor the shooting.
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