Two NYPD Officers Shot In Crown Heights
Crown Heights, Brooklyn — Two New York City Police officers were shot early Monday morning during a routine traffic stop in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
Officer Russell Timoshenko, 23, was shot in the face and neck and is in extremely critical condition.
An officer at the hospital said, “It would be a miracle if he survives.”
Residents note: Many streets are currently closed to vehicular traffic around the area.
Hospital officials described his condition as “touch and go.”
Officer Herman Yan, 26, was shot in the chest and left forearm, and is listed in serious condition. His bulletproof vest might have saved him.
At a news conference, Kelly held up the bulletproof vest, which clearly showed a bullet hole in the center of the vest.
“Two partners who set out this midnight to keep us safe were shot while helping deliver the ever-lower crime rate that makes life as we know it in New York possible. One will recover. The other is clinging to life. Every one of us who lives, visits or works in New York should be grateful for their sacrifice, and I ask all New Yorkers to pray for their recovery,” said Bloomberg.
Sources tell CBS 2 News that at around 2:30 a.m. officers from the 71st Precinct pulled over a BMW X5 at Lefferts Avenue and Rogers Avenue, after noting that the plates on the SUV did not match the vehicle registration.
The officers signaled driver to pull over to right side of street, NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said. The officers approached the car from both the driver's and passenger's sides.
As they approached, one of more persons inside the SUV opened fire.
“There was no exchange of words. They had not gotten to driver's side or passenger side window when shots rang out,” Kelly said.
At least one of the officers returned fire and was able to call for backup on his radio.
Detectives in the area heard the shots and sped to the scene.
The wounded officers were taken to Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn.
Police located the abandoned SUV four blocks away from the scene of the shooting at Kingston and Lefferts avenues.
Investigators recovered two .45-caliber shell casings from inside the vehicle. They found two additional shell casing at the scene of the shooting.
“The terrible events of this morning are proof again of a fundamental truth we have learned again and again: Guns when they fall into the hands of the wrong people have tragic consequences,” Bloomberg said.
Police helicopters searched from the sky as dozens of officers joined the ground search for suspects in the shooting.
Kelly visited the crime scene shortly after 5 a.m., and went to the hospital shortly after. He and Mayor Bloomberg met with family members at the hospital at around 5:30 a.m.
The Officers are both are assigned to the 71st Precinct.
CBS 2 News has learned that both officers have been on the job for less than two years.
One of the officers was at the precinct for less than six months.
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call 1-800-577-TIPS or the Cop Shot Hotline at 1-800-COP-SHOT
Posted By - Webby on 07/09/07 at 09:18
Nobody wrote:
Police officers are apparently investigating everyone in the area with an outstanding warrant. They came to my house looking for someone who never lived there, but gave this address. They said that one of the police officers had died.