Police in New York City are searching for at least one suspect following the shooting of two officers in the Bronx last night.
The two plainclothes officers were responding to a report of a grocery store robbery with three other colleagues around 10:30 p.m. BuzzFeed News reports that the officers engaged suspects matching the description outside of a Bronx restaurant. The suspects opened fire, which police returned. BuzzFeed News adds that the suspects fled on foot before stealing a white Camaro and escaping.
NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton provided details about the shooting during a press conference this morning:
The officers were rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital. At a press conference there early on Tuesday morning, New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton said one officer, aged 30, had been shot in the back. He is currently in surgery and is in a critical but stable condition.
The other, aged 38, was shot in the chest and arm and is in a stable condition. Bratton said neither of the wounded cops are being identified at this stage, pending full notification of their families.
A police spokesman told BuzzFeed News that both officers are expected to survive. The NYPD released surveillance footage of one suspect, which can be seen above.
Speaking from St. Barnabas Hospital, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called the shooting "a case of officers going above and beyond the call of duty to protect New Yorkers," adding that "[i]t’s another example of the dangers officers face."
A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information is encouraged to call (800) COP-SHOT.
On Dec. 20, Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were shot and killed by Ismaaiyl Brinsley while sitting in their police cruiser in Brooklyn. Two Brooklyn streets will be co-named in their honor.
UPDATE: Both suspects are reportedly in custody:
BREAKING--Police confirm BOTH suspects wanted in connection to shooting 2 NYPD officers in the Bronx are IN CUSTODY #nbc4ny
— tracie strahan (@tstrahan4NY) January 6, 2015[via BuzzFeed News]
