A New York City police officer and an innocent bystander were both shot after the suspect allegedly robbed multiple stores Tuesday, according to city officials.
The suspect, Gary Worthy, 57, was sentenced to life in prison for possession of firearms and has 17 convictions including murder, robbery, burglary and drug possession, according to the NYPD.
His last arrest was six days ago for drug possession and resisting arrest.
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Mayor Eric Adams announced during a news conference Tuesday night that a New York City police officer was shot in Queens by a gunman. (Mayor Eric Adams via X)
During a press conference, officials said they responded to a 911 call at 5:35 pm about an armed robbery inside the Village Market grocery store.
The victims told police that Worthy entered the store and announced that something had been robbed, then demanded money while threatening employees and customers inside with a black handgun. He reportedly fired one shot during the robbery and fled south.
Shortly after the police received Worthy's description and broadcast it on the radio, the police were alerted by a witness who told them that a man was robbing a smoke shop at gunpoint and fired one shot.
Police were able to match the description to previous robberies.
The gun was found at the scene on Tuesday night. (NYPD News)
Officers ordered Worthy to stop near the corner of Jamaica Avenue and 160th Street around 6:30 p.m., but he ran away with his gun drawn, injuring NYPD Officer Rich Wong, according to police.
Wong retrieved the handgun from Worthy, who later died at a Jamaica hospital, police said.
A 26-year-old woman was also shot in the massacre, but she and Wong are expected to make a full recovery.
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New York City police are at the scene of a suspected robbery and shooting in Queens. (Peter Gerber)
Mayor Eric Adams took to social media to express his disgust with the criminal justice system following the shooting.
“Although we are grateful that they will recover, but we are tired that the offender who confessed to the crime of murder and was arrested 7 times since 2021 is free to hold two crimes tonight and ended up shooting two people,” said Adams.
Police Benefit Association President Patrick Hendry also criticized the criminal justice system during a press conference and said that NYPD officers are tired of being attacked.
“He didn't know when he ran out of the 103rd station when he heard there was a robbery going on, he didn't know he was going to face a dangerous, dangerous criminal who wouldn't think twice about killing a New York City police officer,” Hendry said.
Mayor Eric Adams visits Jamaica Hospital shooting victims. (Mayor Eric Adams via X)
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“You can count on the New York City police to do our job. We will continue to take dangerous criminals off the streets. We have your back,” said Hendry while speaking to New Yorkers.
“I can tell you who doesn't respect you…our criminal justice system. It continues to fail us day in and day out. Seventeen incarcerated with life parole, 7 incarcerated while out on life parole. What does it mean to be free for life? I think we can agree, you get arrested, you live in cells where you are locked up for life, but it didn't happen here Our criminal justice system is broken from top to bottom The New York City Police are sick of being attacked in the streets We are tired of being shot It has to stop.
The incident is still under investigation.
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