After a call of a home break in just before 3 PM today on Beach Avenue two 43rd Pct. Sergeants were shot at during a chase and stop of a suspect in a red Jeep at 1757 Bronx River Avenue. The suspect identified as Manuel Rosales who fired at the police, was pronounced dead at the scene after police fired back at him. In the gunfight Police Sergeant Paul Tuozzolo was shot in the head and chest, and was pronounced dead at Jacobi Hospital shortly after arriving there. Sergeant Emmanuel Kwo was also shot by the suspect in the leg and is recovering at Jacobi Hospital.
Photos of the scene are below with statements from Mayor de Blasio, Police Commissioner O'neil, Bronx BP Diaz Jr., State Senator Jeff Klein, while State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. who was on scene in his district called the incident very tragic.
Above - State Senator Diaz Sr. surveys the crime scene.
Below - The shooting took place just up the block.
Above - Police Brass leave the scene to travel to the press conference at Jacobi Hospital.
Below Police went door to door seeking more information.
MAYOR DE BLASIO, POLICE COMMISSIONER O’NEILL DISCUSS THE SHOOTING OF TWO NYPD BRONX POLICE SERGEANTS
Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you, Commissioner. It’s with tremendous sorrow that I inform you of the murder of Sergeant Paul Tuozzolo. Commissioner O’Neill and I broke the news of Sergeant Tuozzolo’s death to his wife, his mother, and his father just over an hour ago. Sergeant Tuozzolo was a 19-year veteran of the NYPD – longterm and devoted member of the 4-3 Precinct, and a loving father of two young children.
The City is in mourning, and the family of the NYPD is in mourning, and particularly all the men and women of the 4-3 Precinct are in mourning right now. They lost a very good man, a devoted man, a man who committed his life to protecting all of us.
We told his wife, his mother, his father that the NYPD would be with them, with their family for as long as they need help for years and years to come. We will support that family.
I want to express – against the backdrop of this sorrow, I want to express our appreciation to everyone at Jacobi Hospital, to the doctors, the nurses, all the staff who labored so hard to save Sergeant Tuozzolo. We appreciate you efforts deeply.
Commissioner O’Neill: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. It is with great anguish that I have to tell you today an NYPD was shot and killed while doing his job, while trying to keep the people of this great City safe. At 2:45 pm, a female called 9-1-1, saying a male armed with a gun had broken into her apartment on Beach Avenue in the Bronx. That information was dispatched over our Department radio. As patrol units from the 4-3 Precinct were responding, the radio dispatcher advised them that the suspect had just fled the scene, was driving a red Jeep. A few minutes later, at 2:52 pm, the suspect’s vehicle was observed at Noble Court and Bronx River Avenue by a marked patrol car roughly a half-a-mile from the original car. As officers approached the vehicle, which was stopped at 1575 Bronx River Avenue, the suspect, identified as Manuel Rosales, 35 years old, fired at the officers with a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun. Police returned fire, striking the suspect. During the exchange of gunfire, two uniformed sergeants were shot. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
Both sergeants were immediately transported to Jacobi Hospital. Sergeant Paul Tuozzolo, a 19-year veteran, was later pronounced deceased at the hospital. Sergeant Emmanuel Kwo, a nine-year veteran, was shot in the leg and is currently in stable condition.
Sergeant Tuozzolo has worked at the 4-3 Precinct for 10 years. A preliminary investigation reveals that the suspect, Manuel Rosales, is the estranged husband of a female occupant of the apartment on Beach Avenue. Earlier today, the suspect forcibly entered the apartment armed with a gun. Present at that time was his 29-year-old estranged wife, their three-year-old son, another 13-year-old child, and a 50-year-old woman who was the original 9-1-1 caller.
A preliminary review of the suspect’s history reveals 17 prior arrests within Suffolk County, New York, where he is believed to be living. Further investigation of his background is currently underway.
I want to take this time to this time to thank the highly dedicated and professional staff here at Jacobi Hospital who did as much as humanely possible to try to save Sergeant Tuozzolo. I always talk about what a great job this is, but there’s nothing worse than a day like today.
STATEMENT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ
“This afternoon, The Bronx was the scene of a horrible tragedy as two New York Police Department sergeants in the 43rd Precinct were shot, one of them fatally. This heartbreaking incident puts into clear focus both the difficulties our police officers face every day and the true scourge of guns and gun violence faced by our police, our communities and our nation.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of these two sergeants and the entire NYPD as they mourn the loss of their partner and colleague," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
STATEMENT FROM SENATOR JEFF KLEIN
"I was saddened this afternoon to hear of the loss of a New York Police Department Sergeant and the injury of another from the 43rd Precinct. Police officers put themselves in harm's way every day and on every call that they respond to and incidents like these are a sad reminder of that fact. My thoughts are with their families and fellow members of the NYPD at this difficult time,” said Senator Klein.
More statements of sympathy for the killing of Police Sergeant Tuozzolo, and shooting of Sergeant Kwo will be forthcoming from other elected officials.
I arrived at the scene shortly before 3:30 PM as the ambulances were pulling away from the crime scene.
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