On Sunday, a police officer in New York City fatally shot a driver who attempted to escape after being flagged for a stolen vehicle, according to authorities.
A silver Kia Sportage, reported stolen from the Bronx, was tracked by a license plate reader. It wasn’t long before officers saw the vehicle being driven down West Fordham Road.
Police tried to stop the vehicle, urging both the driver and a passenger to exit. However, the driver reversed into several officers and an unmarked police car, then moved forward, hitting another officer as well.
“As NYPD officers surrounded the vehicle, the driver backed up, striking one officer and multiple unmarked vehicles. He then drove forward, making contact with the sergeant,” explained Anudi Castillo, a deputy district chief with the NYPD.
Despite the officers’ attempts to contain the situation, the driver continued trying to flee. Officers on a nearby vehicle opened fire, hitting him.
The driver was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital and is reported to be in stable condition. The officer involved was also taken to the hospital, where he remains stable.
Pending charges against the driver have yet to be specified. The entire incident was recorded on body-worn cameras and is currently under investigation.
Interestingly, this driver had previously been arrested on suspicions of shooting and killing another man earlier in February. He faced multiple serious charges, including attempted felony assault and criminal possession of a firearm.
