A manhunt is underway to track down those responsible for the shooting of two New York police officers.
The two NYPD officers had just finished a plainclothes shift in the Bronx when reports of an armed robbery came over the radio. The two men decided to attend the scene of the crime, instead of heading directly home.
Their bravery almost led to the loss of their lives as both men were shot. The two wounded officers were taken to St.Barnabas Hospital; one is in a critical condition with gunshot wounds to his arm and lower back, while the other is stable after being hit in the chest and arm.
Beyond the call of duty
The armed robbery occurred at a grocery store, and the two officers apprehended two men who matched the descriptions given by colleagues. One of the men entered a nearby Chinese restaurant, before firing at the officers and fleeing with his accomplice.
Andrew Dossi and Aliro Pellarano are both expected to survive. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has been criticized by his police force of late, claimed that “these officers did something that was extraordinarily brave.”
“This is another indicator of the dangers our officers face in the line of duty,” he continued. “Thank God, these officers will recover.”
Manhunt for cop killers: Rising tensions
The two men are currently still at large, but officers did locate the vehicle in which the suspects escaped, as well as a black revolver that they believe was used in the shooting.
Surveillance footage from the restaurant appears to show a bearded man, and a $12,000 reward has been offered for information leading to his arrest.
The latest shootings follows hot on the heels of the deaths of two officers, Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, who were killed in a targeted attack. At their funerals, many officers turned their backs on Mayor de Blasio as he spoke.
The mayor has been accused of increasing anti-police fervor due to his support for protests against police brutality, linked to the Eric Garner case.
