EAST FLATBUSH, Brooklyn (PIX11) – An NYPD officer shot and injured a 17-year-old boy who reached for a gun after he was chased down by police in Brooklyn Thursday afternoon, officials said.
The officer shot the 17-year-old in the right thigh at East 96th Street and Clarkson Avenue in East Flatbush after the teenager reached for a gun on the ground, according to NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell.
The incident began when police tried to break up a fight between a group of people near Kings Highway and Rockaway Parkway around 3:15 p.m., officials said.
“As [officers] approached this group, they observed a female drop a bag next to a male on a Razor scooter. As they go to stop the male on the Razor scooter, he flees about a block and a half and they lose him,” Chell said. “As they’re canvassing for the male, he emerges from a driveway. One of our officers sees this and starts to chase him and orders him to stop.”
The officer chased after the 17-year-old to East 96th Street and Clarkson Avenue, where he dropped a purple-colored 9mm handgun on the ground, according to Chell.
“As the male goes to pick up the gun, now face to face with our officer, he’s given repeated instructions not to pick up that firearm, at which time he does. Our officer, to defend himself, fires one round striking the male in the right thigh,” Chell said.
Chell said the teen and the officer were standing about 15 feet apart, and the situation unfolded in just seconds.
Police apprehended the teen and then applied a tourniquet to his leg to help stop the bleeding. The teen was hospitalized and is expected to survive, according to Chell.
Police recovered the purple-colored 9mm handgun at the scene. NYPD officials have not yet announced any charges as a result of the incident.
