Cops open fire at optical store in Chelsea, killing armed suspect: NYPD

The
suspect
who
was
shot
in
an
incident
involving
NYPD
and
federal
officers
on
Tuesday
in
Manhattan
has
died,
police
announced.

The
shooting
was
reported
shortly
after
2:30
p.m.
and
occurred
on
West
24th
Street
between
7th
Avenue
and
8th
Avenue
in
Chelsea,
according
to
the
FDNY.

In
a
subsequent
press
conference,
Chief
of
Detectives
Joseph
Kenny
said
that
officers
assigned
to
a
joint
NYPD
and
Homeland
Security
Violent
Gang
Unit
federal
task
force
were
on
West
24th
Street
searching
for
a
25-year-old
man
wanted
for
a
felony
assault
that
took
place
earlier
this
month.
Authorities
located
the
man
and
identified
themselves
when
the
suspect
fled
into
a
location
that
could
be
an
optical
store.
While
inside
the
store,
members
of
the
task
force
tried
to
arrest
him
and
a
violent
struggle
broke
out,
Kenny
said.
It
was
during
this
time
that
the
suspect
allegedly
pulled
out
a
firearm,
prompting
officers
to
fire.

Members
of
the
task
force
performed
first
aid,
including
CPR.
Emergency
medical
services
transported
the
suspect
to
Bellevue
Hospital,
where
he
was
pronounced
dead,
according
to
the
NYPD.
According
to
Kenny,
citing
the
preliminary
investigation,
the
suspect
was
shot
three
times
in
multiple
places
on
his
body.

Authorities
recovered
a
gun
that
is
the
same
that
was
fired
at
members
of
the
task
force,
according
to
Kenny.

During
the
struggle,
a
member
of
the
task
force
received
a
gash
to
his
head,
but
has
since
been
released
from
the
hospital.

An
investigation
is
ongoing.

Authorities
ask
that
you
avoid
this
area
due
to
police
activity,
and
ask
drivers
to
take
alternative
routes.