A person of interest has been arrested in connection with the shooting of an off-duty US Customs and Border Protection officer in a New York City park. The NYPD confirmed that the incident occurred late Saturday night in Fort Washington Park, located in Washington Heights.
Incident Details
The 42-year-old law enforcement officer was shot in the arm and face, according to police sources. He was promptly transported to a Harlem hospital, where he is expected to survive his injuries.
Following the shooting, the NYPD initiated a search for two suspects. On Sunday morning, one person of interest was taken into custody, while the second suspect remains at large.
According to law enforcement sources, the person of interest attempted to rob the off-duty officer, leading to a heated exchange that escalated into a gunfight.
Community Reaction
Locals exercising along the Hudson River Greenway expressed shock upon witnessing the crime scene. Marcelo Candeo, a resident of Englewood, New Jersey, described the situation as “alarming,” stating, “I’m very shocked and surprised. I hope he’s doing well and gets a full recovery.”
Another resident, Kovan Pillai from Kips Bay, remarked, “This is the most peaceful part of New York I can find, so it’s a shock to hear that anything like this happened.”
