A New York police officer has died and another is in critical condition and undergoing surgery after the shootings in Harlem, officials said Friday.
According to officials, they are the fourth and fifth officers of the New York Police Department to be shot in the city this month.
Police have identified the slain officer as Jason Rivera.
The NYPD said in a tweet, "We mourn the loss of a hero officer - a son, husband and friend. Police officer Jason Rivera, just 22 years old, was murdered in the line of duty."
The incident came to light when the officers were answering a domestic call at 6:15 pm. In Harlem, officials said. NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said a woman called 911 and was told she was having an argument with one of her sons inside her apartment.
Shortly after, three NYPD officers arrived at the apartment and visited the mother and another son. Essig said the duo directed the two officers to a room in the back of the apartment, where her other son - the suspect - was waiting.
"The door swings and several shots are fired, killing both officers - one seriously and one in a critical condition in Harlem Hospital," Essig said.
The third officer, identified as Lashvan McNeil, shot the suspect in the arm and head when he tried to flee, police said. Officials said 47-year-old McNeil remained in critical condition at the hospital.
Earlier, a law enforcement source told CNN that a civilian involved in the incident had died, but that was not the case.
Mayor says it's an attack on the city
Mayor Eric Adams, who was at the Harlem hospital where officers were taken, described the shooting as an attack against the city's children and families.
"This is our city against killers," said Adams, who has been in office for less than a month. "We will need everyone on the same page to accomplish this task," he said.
I lost my fellow officers in the line of duty. I remember my mother’s fear for her sons when we went to work every day.
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) January 22, 2022
Tonight, we lost a 22 year old son, husband and police officer. Another is fighting for his life.
Our hearts go out to their families.
"Let me be clear, there are no gun manufacturers in New York City. We don't make guns here. How are we getting thousands of guns off the street and they still find a way in New York City in the hands of people who are murderers? ?" They said.
When Adams, a former police captain, was inaugurated on January 1, he insisted that he would not allow New York to become a "city of disorder".
However, his tenure has been marked by a series of high-visibility incidents that have exposed the complex challenge of crime in the city.
Although not close to the rate of the early 1990s, it has been increasing in recent months. In November -- the most recent month for which the city has released data -- crime rates increased 21.3% from the same period last year, according to the NYPD.
During the Democratic primary campaign, public safety became a top issue among candidates, and Adams argued that he was uniquely qualified to tackle it given his more than 20 years of service with the NYPD.
"Mission one is to tackle gun violence in our city," he said at his inauguration. "You don't start the new year with violence, that's unacceptable."
In addition to police firing, Meyer has faced other violent attacks this month.
These include a seriously injured 11-month-old who was shot in the face in a shootout Wednesday in the Bronx, and a 40-year-old woman who was killed when she was pushed in front of an oncoming subway train. Was. January 15 at Times Square station.
Police said the Metro incident was an accidental attack. The suspect was charged with second-degree murder after police appeared less than an hour later.
Gun used in shooting was stolen in 2017
One of Adams' key employees was Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, formerly Chief of Detectives in Nassau County, Long Island.
On Friday night, she said the Harlem tragedy was "incomprehensible."
Sewell said: "Please pray for our officer who is fighting for his life in his hospital bed. And appreciate the heroism and sacrifice of the men and women of the NYPD every single day."
Police said the firearm used in the shooting was a Glock 45 with a high-capacity magazine, which holds 40 additional rounds.
It was stolen from Baltimore in 2017, and the NYPD said it is working with the Joint Firearms Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to locate the gun.
"We've been to the scene four times this month of NYPD officers who were shot by violent criminals for possessing deadly, illegal guns," Sewell said. This was the first incident on Friday night in which an officer was killed.
Adams sought assistance from national leaders.
"We need Washington to join us and take action now to stop the flow of guns in cities like New York City and New York City," the mayor said. "we are all witnesses."
Attorney General Merrick Garland offered condolences to Sewell and told her that the Justice Department and FBI were ready to assist, according to a tweet. The FBI was already in touch with their counterparts at the NYPD, he added.
New York Attorney General Letitia James released a statement in response to the shooting, saying the entire state is mourning.
"As we await the facts, my office may assert jurisdiction in this matter. We pray for the safety of our police and our communities," James said.