Transcript: Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Bratton Deliver Remarks at St. Barnabas Hospital

January 6, 2015

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Well, first I want to say that these officers did something that was extraordinarily brave this evening, and they did it as part of their commitment. These officers had come off their shift, and upon hearing this call, went back out in search of these criminals. And the work they do – this anti-crime work – is so profoundly important, but this instance where they went above and beyond the call – this is absolutely a case of officers going above and beyond the call to protect their fellow New Yorkers.

We want to thank everyone here at St. Barnabas for taking such good care of these officers. I’d like to just name some of the doctors who’ve been involved – Dr. Vinces, Dr. Nazir, Dr. Katz, Dr. Kirk, and Dr. Patti. I want to thank all of them – the team here has been extraordinary. Thank God these officers are doing well and will recover. We care obviously at this moment not just for these officers, but for their families – we want to support them at this difficult time. And as always, the city of New York and the NYPD will be with them through this challenge and as these officers recover.

I want to also say this is another indicator of the dangers that our officers face in the line of duty. We depend on them to keep this whole city safe. They do it with extraordinary skill and professionalism, and there are profound dangers – and we saw examples of that this evening. But again, thank God these officers will recover.

I do want to ask the people of this city to help in this investigation. You’ve heard a description of the perpetrators. You’ll get video footage shortly. It is crucial that the people of this city aid the NYPD in this investigation so that we can capture anyone associated with these crimes.

Thank you very much.

Police Commissioner William Bratton: At approximately 10:35 p.m., two police officers from the 46 Precinct Anti-Crime Unit were shot and wounded at east 184th street near Tiebout Avenue in the Bronx. The officers, who were part of a five-member plain clothes Anti-Crime team, were searching for suspects wanted for an armed robbery which occurred ten minutes earlier at a grocery store located at 363 East 180th Street.

Near the corner of East 184th Street, the officers observed two possible suspects. As they approached them, one of the suspects entered a Chinese Restaurant on Tiebout Avenue while the other suspect remained outside on the street. As two of the officers approached the male on the street, the other suspect inside of the store came out and fired upon the officers.  The officers returned fire, and during the exchange, two anti-crime officers were wounded. The two suspects then fled on foot one block east to Marion Avenue, where they carjacked a white Camaro. That vehicle was subsequently found abandoned near east 188th Street and Park Avenue. A black revolver was also recovered nearby.   

We are currently investigating if the suspect who fired upon the officers was also involved in the prior robbery. Shortly after the shooting incident investigators were notified of a male who entered Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in upper Manhattan with a gunshot wound to his back. Detectives are currently investigating any possible connection to this incident. The suspects wanted for the shooting of the officers are described as two male Hispanics approximately 25-30 years old wearing dark clothing.  One of the suspects has a close-cropped full beard. One of the suspects may have been wounded. We are currently reviewing video footage from both locations and will provide additional information as it becomes available. The two wounded police officers are being treated here at St Barnabas Hospital.  One, a 30 year old male, suffered gunshot wounds to the left arm and the lower back and he is currently in the operating room and is listed in critical condition. The other officer is 38 years old; he was shot in the chest and left arm and is listed in stable condition.