Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Cops Shoot Armed DOC Officer 20 Times, Hit Him Once
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Oct 3, 2010
Modified Oct 3, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Oct 3, 2010
Modified Oct 3, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Department of Correction officer Victor Hernandez was shot by cops in the Bronx yesterday after he refused to lower his weapon outside of a Bronx club. Hernandez, 35, was thrown out of Club Legend on 161st Street early Saturday morning after allegedly making a pass at another man's girlfriend, and pedestrians called 911 after seeing him stumbling down the block with his gun at his side. Plainclothes cops arrived and ordered Hernandez to drop his weapon. Hernandez raised his gun, and police fired 20 shots at him. They hit him in the arm once.
Officials say Hernandez is assigned to Rikers Island and authorized to carry a gun, but NYPD Commissioner Paul Browne told the Post that surveillance video "clearly shows the correction officer initially walking with his gun out in his right hand...and then subsequently gripping it with both hands as he turned the gun on responding officers, despite repeated warnings by police to stop, don't move." Police say they properly identified themselves as officers, and had their badges around their necks. Hernandez dropped his weapon during the 20 second standoff, and is in stable condition at Lincoln Hospital.
Hernandez, a four-year veteran, has been suspended without pay, but his father fumed at the officers who shot at him. "He's a correction officer. That means that the police shot another police," he said. "He has the license to carry the gun. "Why did the police shoot him? Correction officers always have problems with outside cops." But witnesses say Hernandez was given warning before cops began shooting. "I could see a bunch of cops screaming, 'Stop, stop!' " said witness Reyna Victoria. "I thought it was firecrackers, there were so many shots."
Tagged
bronx
Corrections Officer
nypd
shooting
victor hernandez
Jaya Saxena
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Person found dead with stab wounds in Queens building, NYPD says
Police hadn't yet named and suspects or identified the victim Friday.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Nov 6, 2026 at 8:34 p.m. ET
Amtrak's Penn Station plan could funnel taxpayer money to new venue for James Dolan
The federal government's plan to rebuild Penn Station would require the purchase of a theater attached to the west side of Madison Square Garden.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
News
Amtrak's Penn Station plan could funnel taxpayer money to new venue for James Dolan
The federal government's plan to rebuild Penn Station would require the purchase of a theater attached to the west side of Madison Square Garden.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Intoxicated Queens driver killed baby after running stop sign, indictment says
By
Giulia Heyward
Man arrested in NYC on accusations of sexual assault, rape on Cape Cod, officials said
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Service upgrade coming to On The Way: An hour-long radio show on all things NYC transit
By
Stephen Nessen
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .