Officer shot in arm in the Bronx, police say

An NYPD officer has been hospitalized early Tuesday after being shot in the Bronx overnight, officials said.

The incident happened in the Belmont section of the borough at Prospect Avenue and East 183rd Street just after 3 a.m., authorities said.

At a news conference hours later, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said the encounter began when two officers from the 48th Precinct’s public safety team were patrolling Prospect Avenue in an unmarked vehicle.

The two officers approached the intersection at East 183rd Street, where they engaged with a group of men on the corner, Sewell said. The situation quickly escalated, and the suspects opened fire on the officers.

According to NYPD Chief James Essig, one officer was struck in the left upper arm, but said both officers were able to return fire.

Responding officers arrived and apprehended a 16-year-old suspect at the scene, officials said. Officers are still searching for two suspects in connection with the incident.

Essig said multiple bullet casings were recovered at the scene as well as a .32-caliber weapon.

According to officials, the area where the shooting occurred is known to police to be a location where members of street gangs often congregate.

Pat Lynch, president of the Police Benevolent Association, said the incident represented the “chaos” officers often face on the streets of New York City, but praised the officers for their diligent work.

“These police officers were set upon, shot at and struck. That calm came over these police officers and the police officer that was struck and shot still pursued the perpetrator. His partner pursued the perpetrator, recognized that his partner was shot – throws him in the car, drives, transmits descriptions [and] notifies the hospital,” Lynch said. “If he could have when he got to the hospital, he probably would have done the operation as well. That’s how calm and professional these police officers were during chaos.”