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Queens police officer shot by robbery suspect who was later killed in confrontation, NYPD says
By
Giulia Heyward
and
Phil Corso
Published Nov 19, 2024
Modified Nov 19, 2024
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Courtesy Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office
By
Giulia Heyward
and
Phil Corso
Published Nov 19, 2024
Modified Nov 19, 2024
Share
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An armed robbery suspect shot and injured a Queens police officer during a confrontation Tuesday evening in Jamaica, Queens, authorities said. The officer fired back, killing the suspect, while a bystander was injured in the crossfire, according to the NYPD.
The series of incidents began at 5:35 p.m. when officers from the 107th Precinct responded to reports of a gunpoint robbery at a bodega on Hillside Avenue, officials said. There, the alleged robber, identified as 57-year-old Gary Worthy of Queens, fired a shot before fleeing, police said.
Nearly an hour later, officers from the 103rd Precinct, canvassing for the suspect, were flagged down by a witness who identified someone fitting the man's description at Jamaica Avenue and 160th Street who allegedly robbed a nearby smoke shop and fired his gun one time, police said.
When a pair of officers approached Worthy, he ignored commands to stop and produced a firearm, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.
The alleged robber fired one shot, striking seven-year veteran Rich Wong in his thigh, police said. Wong returned fire, fatally striking Worthy in the face, officials said. The injured officer was rushed to Jamaica Hospital and was expected to recover, authorities said.
A bystander, a 26-year-old woman, was also shot in the leg, according to police. She was expected to survive, officials said.
Authorities said the gun was recovered from the scene.
Worthy, who police said was on "lifetime parole" for firearms possession, had a history of violent crimes, including 17 prior arrests, according to Kenny. He had been released from custody just six days earlier after another arrest for possession of felony narcotics and resisting arrest, Kenny said. Officials alleged he was also linked to three other gunpoint robberies in recent weeks, all involving gunfire.
Worthy's attorney information was not immediately available.
Officials brief the media at Jamaica Hospital, where police said the injured officer was recovering on Tuesday night.
Courtesy Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office
Mayor Eric Adams and Interim Police Commissioner Tom Donlon appeared at Jamaica Hospital on Tuesday night and expressed anger over what they described as a failure of the criminal justice system.
“This is just another stark reminder of the danger the men and women of the NYPD run toward every day,” Adams said at a press conference.
Adams continued, "We are grateful tonight, but we are also angry. Because we have witnessed in two days a criminal justice sytsem that is failing New Yorkers and the good people of this city."
An investigation into the incident is ongoing, police said.
The incident comes one day after police alleged that an apparent resident of a men’s shelter near Bellevue Hospital fatally stabbed three people multiple times with a pair of kitchen knives in a morning spree of violence that spanned more than 20 blocks in Manhattan.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
Tagged
queens
public safety
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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Phil Corso
Phil Corso is the evening news editor at WNYC/Gothamist. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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