MOTT HAVEN — A 19-year-old Bronx man wounded in a shootout with police has been arrested for shooting an officer who was helping to break up a large fight on Saturday.
Officer Sherrod Stuart and other police were responding to several 911 calls about a huge brawl with guns, knives and bats going on at 2505 Third Ave. in the 40th Precinct around 2 a.m. on Saturday when Stuart was shot in the right foot by Christopher Rice, according to the NYPD.
The 25-year-old Stuart fired back at Rice, hitting him four times, police said. Both men were taken to Lincoln Hospital.
The fight started during a "Jump-Up" party at 2505 Third Ave. that between 100 and 200 people attended, but the specific cause of the melee is still under investigation, according to the NYPD.
Stuart was moved to Weill Cornell Medical Center on Saturday evening and had the bullet removed from him on Sunday, according to Inspector Carlos Valdez, commanding officer of the 40th Precinct.
He is in good spirits and starting to walk around, Valdez added, describing him as a well rounded and energetic officer.
"He is a very young, enthusiastic, motivated cop," he said. "He’s just a good guy."
The day of the fight also marked the day of Stuart's four-year anniversary with the NYPD, according to Police Commissioner William Bratton.
Rice, who is still at Lincoln Hospital, has previously been arrested five times, including once on Friday for fare beating, according to the NYPD.
He was released from court at 11 p.m. on Friday for this charge, roughly three hours before the shooting, and was charged with assaulting an officer, menacing and criminal possession, police said.
Officers recovered several firearms from the area where the fight took place and believe Stuart was shot with a .38 caliber gun.
Five additional stabbing victims were taken to local hospitals in the aftermath of the fight, and officers have arrested 19-year-old Henry Jones in connection with the brawl as well, police said.
Stuart comes from a police family, as his father is a detective with the NYPD on active-duty with the U.S. Army, according to Bratton.
Mayor Bill de Blasio praised Stuart during a press conference at Lincoln Hospital on Saturday morning, saying that his four-year career with the NYPD has already been "very, very impressive."
"What an impressive young man who went into this very dangerous situation and handled himself so well," de Blasio said.
