EAST HARLEM — NYPD detectives shot a gunman who they witnessed shoot another man on First Avenue Tuesday night, police said.
Officers with the NYPD's Special Victims Unit were near East 101st Street and First Avenue about 8 p.m. when they saw Wilvinson Diaz, 26, run south on First and shoot a 21-year-old from behind, NYPD officials said.
His 21-year-old victim, whose name was not released, was hit in the torso and leg, police said. He made his way to Metropolitan Hospital where he was listed in stable condition, police said.
Diaz pinwheeled and raced back up First Avenue, still clutching his .22-caliber semi-automatic handgun, police said.
The detectives identified themselves and ordered Diaz to drop the gun, but he raised it toward the officers instead, prompting one of them to fire two rounds into his torso, police said.
"I heard two shots, then a pause, then two more shots," said Mickel Cook, 29.
Cook said the officers were in plainclothes and that he couldn't make out what they were saying.
"I couldn't see any blood. They were surrounding him. He was on the floor, sitting up. He had on a jean jacket and long shorts," Cook said.
Diaz was taken to Harlem Hospital in stable condition, police said.
He was arrested on charges of attempted murder, assault, possession of a loaded gun, use of a gun, reckless endangerment and marijuana possession, an NYPD spokesman said.
The two detectives were treated for tinnitus at Mount Sinai Hospital, officials said.
