NYPD Officer Killed, Another Critically Injured
NEW YORK — An NYPD officer has died and another was in critical condition following a shooting in Harlem on Friday night. There have been three other shootings in January that left other officers injured.
A 22-year-old NYPD officer was killed and another officer, 27, is in critical condition after they were shot in Harlem Friday evening while responding to a domestic violence call, police said
The officers were shot by the suspect, identified as 47-year-old Lashawn McNeil, as they approached a rear bedroom; both were rushed to the hospital, where one was pronounced dead and the other in critical condition
Police initially said that the suspect was shot and killed by a third officer at the scene, but later made a correction to say that he was taken to the hospital and was in critical condition
A 22-year-old NYPD officer was killed and another officer is in critical condition after they were shot in Harlem Friday evening while responding to a domestic violence call, police said.
And according to multiple senior officials with direct knowledge of the investigation, the accused shooter, Lashawn McNeil, has a history of increasingly rabid belief in anti-government conspiracy theories.
Three uniformed officers responded to a domestic disturbance call around 6:15 p.m. on West 135th Street by a mother who said she was fighting with her son, according to police. She did not mention any injuries, or any weapons, on the call.
After officers arrived, they went to a rear bedroom, where the suspect fired multiple times as they approached the door. The man then tried to run from the apartment, but was confronted by the third officer, who shot him twice.
Both officers were rushed to the hospital, where one was pronounced dead, police said. Early Saturday morning, police identified the fallen as Officer Jason Rivera, of the 32nd Precinct.
The other officer, Wilbert Mora, 27, was badly injured and listed in critical condition at Harlem Hospital, and was undergoing surgery in an effort to save his life.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams spoke at Harlem Hospital as the second officer was still in surgery. He addressed a large crowd full of NYPD officers who were there mourning their fallen brother, while praying for the other officer still in surgery.
“Normally when we do briefings like this, it’s just the police officials who stand at this podium. I did not want that tonight. I wanted everyone to be in the same room. I wanted everyone to be here to understand: It is our city against the killers,” he said in an emotional plea. “This was just not an attack on three brave officers, this was an attack on the city of New York. It is an attack on the children and families of this city.”
Police initially said that the the suspect, Lashawn McNeil, 47, was shot and pronounced dead at the scene. However, they later made a correction and said that McNeil did not die at the scene, but rather was taken to the hospital and was in critical condition. He is not expected to survive his injuries, senior NYPD officials said.
