BROOKLYN — The man who was shot by an NYPD officer in Brooklyn Wednesday after reaching for a gun had gotten into a fight with an NYPD sergeant in 2013 after officers saw a gun in his waistband, according to court papers.
Kareem Thomas, 24, was in a clothing store with two friends on Nostrand Avenue near Brooklyn College when the group got into a verbal argument with another man. An NYPD officer and sergeant in the store then noticed a 9 mm handgun in Thomas’ waistband, court documents read.
The officers identified themselves and Thomas, who has 15 prior arrests, then got into a struggle with the sergeant after he tried to grab the weapon.
One of his friends then allegedly got into a fight with the other officer.
At some point during the scuffle the gun fell to the floor and Thomas yelled, “Get it! Get it!”
Thomas’ other buddy, Ryen Duverney, then picked up the weapon, according to court papers.
The sergeant managed to knock the gun out of Duverney’s hand and put in his waistband.
The two officers were eventually able to arrest Thomas and Duverney while the other man got away.
They were both charged with criminal possession of a weapon and assault.
Thomas was out on $100,000 bond in that case.
Earlier Wednesday Thomas was in Brooklyn Supreme Court for a 2011 gang-related shooting.
He was out on $10,000 in that case.
Sometime after getting out of court, Thomas was seen by an officer driving recklessly on Empire Boulevard.
The officer then tried to pull over Thomas, but he took off in the white Ford Mustang he was driving and then crashed into a flatbed truck.
Thomas jumped out of the car holding a gun and took off, police said.
The officer caught up with him a few blocks later and shot Thomas while he was allegedly reaching for a gun.
His family was “hysterical” after finding out he was shot, according to Thomas’ lawyer, Damion Brown, and were on the way to the hospital to see him.
