Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Police Shoot 'Career Burglar' in Queens, NYPD Says

By  Chris Sommerfeldt Katie Honan Stevie Borrello and Ben Fractenberg | August 1, 2016 3:02pm | Updated on August 1, 2016 5:42pm

 Two people were rushed to Elmhurst Hospital in serious condition after involved-shooting in Maspeth on Monday, police said, Aug. 1, 2016.
Two people were rushed to Elmhurst Hospital in serious condition after involved-shooting in Maspeth on Monday, police said, Aug. 1, 2016.
View Full Caption
DNAinfo/Katie Honan

QUEENS — Police shot a "career burglar" in the groin and a bystander suffered a head injury after officers responded to a burglary in Maspeth Monday afternoon, NYPD officials said. 

Two officers responded to a 911 call of a burglary on Hull Avenue near 66th Street at about 1:30 p.m. after a woman saw a trespasser in her house through a live security video feed. The homeowner met the officers on the street and told them the burglar was inside with her dog. 

The officers entered the home through separate doors and woman went in about a minute later to try and save her pup.

The 38-year-old suspect then came charging out of a bedroom and assaulted one of them, Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said at a press conference near the scene. 

“This was a close quarters encounter,” Boyce said.  

The woman was seen on video running out of the home with the dog in her arms seconds before a single gunshot was heard ringing out. 

The officer fired one time while struggling with the suspect, hitting him once in the groin, Boyce said. 

The burglar, who has six prior arrests, managed to break free and flee the house and was apprehended about a block away. 

A female bystander, who was about a block away in the opposite direction of where the burglar ran, suffered a head injury after a small piece of wire got lodged in her head, officials said. 

There were other pieces of wire in the woman's driveway, and investigators think she may have fallen before injuring herself. 

The woman was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital in serious condition. She was conscious and speaking with investigators. 

The burglar was also taken to Elmhurst Hospital in critical condition. 

The officers did not suffer any serious injuries.  

Police were seen canvassing the area Monday afternoon, checking under cars and knocking on doors. Hull Avenue between 66th and 68th streets, as well as portion of 66th street were closed off by the NYPD.

Nelly Gamarra, 55, lives on the corner of Hull Avenue and 68th Street and was standing outside her house when she heard a man yelling around 2 p.m. 

"A male yelled very loud, 'Wow! Wow!'" Gamarra said. "Then a police car came after not even two minutes. They stopped right in front of my house. Two cops came out and yelled 'where the f--- they went?' And ran down the street."

Gamarra didn't hear any gunshots but said an ambulance sped by her house shortly after she heard the screaming. 

Darlaina Mazione, who has lived in the neighborhood for 34 years, said there have been a few burglaries in the area recently. 

"My house was burglarized seven years ago,"Mazione said. "It's unnerving, you know?"

She added that her neighbor was wise to have a security system. 

"It's smart of her to have the nanny cam."