Police Officer Shot, Suspect Killed In Washington Heights: NYPD

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — A New York City police officer from Long Island was injured and a suspect killed Thursday afternoon during an intense shootout in a Washington Heights parking lot, NYPD officials said.

Around 4:30 p.m. a police officer, who the New York Post identified as Justin Vartanian with the 34th Precinct's anti-crime squad, responded to calls of shots fired at the corner of Wadsworth Avenue and West 187th Street, NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill said. When the officer approached a man who matched the description of a suspect, the man ran away holding a gun, O'Neill said.

The chase ended in a parking lot on the corner of Broadway and West 187th Street with the suspect and officer taking positions behind cars and exchanging gunfire at close quarters, the police commissioner said.

The suspect fired three shots at the 34-year-old officer, hitting him once in the right armpit, O'Neill said. A second police officer from the anti-crime squad drove his unmarked police car into the lot while under fire and positioned himself behind the vehicle. The officer fired three shots at the suspect, hitting him once in the chest, O'Neill said. One of the suspect's bullets went through the car's windshield and "just missed" striking the officer, O'Neill said.

Mayor Bill de Blasio described the shootout as a "fast" and "intense" episode during a press conference Thursday. The mayor added that the officers who responded to the scene "did everything right" and described them as "very impressive and brave young men."

O'Neill said that the officers responding to the shooting displayed "unbelievable courage."

EMS rushed Vartanian, who Newsday reported is from Suffolk County, to St. Luke's Hospital where is he was in stable condition.

"He's in good spirits," O'Neill said after visiting with Vartanian and his family. "Matter of fact, I'd say he's in great spirits."

The second officer, who shot and killed the suspect, was also taken to the hospital to be checked out.

The suspect was rushed to Columbia Presbyterian hospital and pronounced dead, police said. Commissioner O'Neill said police are still working to verify the man's identity. Contrary to initial reports, there was no second suspect involved in the shootout.