Police shot and wounded a suspect outside a Far Rockaway, Queens residence Saturday afternoon after officers had responded to a report of shots fired, a law enforcement source told NBC New York. A witness said they heard an explosion, then gunshots. It was not immediately clear if anyone else was hurt.
The suspect met officers outside with a firearm, according to the source, when police opened fire. The wounded suspect was taken to Jamaica Hospital in serious condition.
Numerous evidence markers filled the street as police investigated the incident on Ocean Crest Blvd. in Far Rockaway, Queens Saturday. (Image: NBC New York)
“When I was taking my son downstairs, the cops already had their guns drawn towards the house where the fire happened,” said neighbor Shawn Williamson. “And then, they told me ‘go back upstairs,’ so I went back upstairs and by the time I went back upstairs to look out the window to see what was going on, there was an explosion that happened first.”
Williamson said after the explosion, “somebody came out and that’s when they told them ‘get on the ground, drop the weapon,’ and then they started shooting.”
The FDNY says it was called to the house on Ocean Crest Blvd. near Hartman Ln. shortly after noon. The initial call was for a person shot at the location, the department said. When crews arrived, they found the house on fire. There were no injuries reported from the fire. It was not immediately clear if the sound of an explosion came before or after the fire began.
Video from the Citizen App showed heavy smoke coming from the home. The house sits near Q302 Queens High School for Information, Research, and Technology.
This is a breaking story. NBC New York crews are at the scene and will have a full report on News 4 New York at 6:00 PM.
