Our thoughts for recovery are with the two police officers who were shot last night (Thursday) at the Melrose Houses in our assembly district. Yet again, this community has another tragic incident occur where police lights fill the nightsky. It is time for a dramatic change to occur so that our young people don't turn to violence and death but rather are directed to opportunity and hope. The two officers who were shot were doing their job on a patrol, serving honorably and were shot in a stairwell. We are reminded that we need greater community and police relations, to get rid of these guns from our communities, provide economic opportunities so Bronxites don't go down the wrong path and ensure that violence is reduced while trust is gained. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide more updates to our constituents.
A summary of the situation as of 10 p.m. EST:
At approximately 8 p.m. EST last night (Thursday), while three officers were conducting a vertical patrol in the sixth floor stairwell within the 320 East 156th St. building within the Melrose Housing development in our assembly district, they encountered two individuals, one of whom shot at the officers.
Two police officers were shot and wounded inside the stairwell. The suspect then fled into an apartment onto the 7th floor. Responding officers gained access to the apartment, where they discovered several individuals as well as the suspect who was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The officers are at Lincoln Hospital. They have been on the force for two years and are both assigned to the housing bureau's Impact Response Team (IRT) within Police Service Area (PSA) 7 in our assembly district.
The second individual who the officers encountered as well as several other individuals have been taken to the 40th precinct for investigation.
Just before 10 pm, I joined Mayor Bill de Blasio, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, NYC Public Advocate Letitia James, NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, 16th District City Councilwoman & Chairwoman of Public Safety Vanessa Gibson and Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark at a press conference at Lincoln Hospital in The Bronx where updates were provided.
