Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2007 5:43:00 GMT -5
Bullet grazes cop in wild Bronx shootout with gunman
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BY ALISON GENDAR, TANANGACHI MFUNI and CORKY SIEMASZKO
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Thursday, October 4th 2007, 11:05 AM
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Det. Daniel Rivera was this close to being shot between the eyes. Because he turned in time, he was only grazed in the forehead.
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Fellow cop William Gonzalez was also hurt in the shootout.
Suspect Jermaine Taylor jumped out of second-floor window (top one in picture) in an attempt to escape, police say. He tried to leap on to the fence but lost his grip and fell, breaking his hip.
One Bronx cop escaped death by inches and another was wounded Wednesday in a wild gunfight with a wanted man that turned a narrow alley into "a shooting gallery," police said.
Just 20 feet separated the cops from the suspect as the two sides squeezed off 19 shots - a furious fusillade that ended when one of the cops' shots knocked the suspect's pistol out of his hand and severed his middle finger.
"It was like rapid fire, one after the other," said Victor Vila, 65, who lives nearby. "It sounded like cannons. I've never heard shots like that."
When it was over, Detective Daniel Rivera was bleeding from a graze wound to his forehead and Detective William Gonzalez was clutching his bleeding right shin. Nearby, suspected gunman Jermaine Taylor, 18, was sprawled on the ground with a broken hip, police said.
Police sources said Rivera just missed being killed. He turned his head just in time and instead of being shot between the eyes he was merely wounded, they said.
"A fraction of a degree of the gun, we would not be here relieved," Mayor Bloomberg said at the hospital. "We would be here praying."
Rivera and Gonzalez, both 41, were treated at St. Barnabas Hospital and released. A graze wound could clearly be seen on Rivera's forehead.
A third detective involved in the shooting, Thomas Murphy, 37, was treated for ringing in his ears.
Taylor was in stable condition at Jacobi Medical Center. He was charged with two counts of attempted murder of a police officer and illegal possession of a weapon.
"The shooting appears to be within department guidelines for the use of deadly force," Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne said.
Gonzalez's wife, Mirta, said the warrant team her husband is with have worked together for years.
"You could worry about it all the time, but you would lose all function," she said outside their home. "I'm glad he's okay. I'm glad they're all okay. They are a terrific group of guys."
It was the second gun battle for Rivera. In 1993, he fired his weapon - but didn't hit anybody - while helping capture two Bronx robbery suspects, sources said.
Police said Rivera and Gonzalez, both members of Bronx warrants squad, had been on a stakeout for two days in front of a drug den on Webster Ave., in Tremont.
They knew Taylor could be armed and dangerous because he was wanted in connection with a July 2 bodega shooting that wounded two men.
A little before 5:30 a.m., while Gonzalez and Murphy went to the back of the building, Rivera, another detective and a sergeant knocked on the front door and yelled, "This is the police!"
Taylor knew they were coming because the apartment was equipped with a surveillance camera, and quickly raced to the back of the flat, police said.
When the officers charged inside, the other residents sicced a pit bull named Princess on them, police and witnesses said.
Meanwhile, Rivera ran back outside to join Murphy and Gonzalez behind the building. By the time he got there, Taylor had ripped an air conditioner out of a rear second-floor window and tried to leap onto a high chain-link fence - but lost his grip and crashed.
"He was limping and holding his side," witness Brandon Urbaez, 11, said. "The cops said, 'Freeze, mister!'"
Instead, Taylor squeezed off five shots from a 9-mm. semiautomatic pistol at Gonzalez and Murphy, who fired back five and three times respectively, police said.
Despite having shattered his pelvis, Taylor managed to get up and fire again, grazing Rivera who had just arrived - and who fired five times in return, police said.
Inside the filthy apartment, cops found several bags of pot and a bathtub filled with dog feces. Princess and her two puppies were taken to a shelter. Two of the seven other residents were arrested on outstanding warrants and a third charged with pot possession.
Plastered on one wall was a poster from the movie "Scarface." It showed Al Pacino holding a huge gun and bore the line, "Say hello to my little friend."
agendar@nydailynews.com
Carol's husband sold this cop the Bronx shirt the day before the shoot out. Sorry that the picture did not show up because it shows him wearing it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BY ALISON GENDAR, TANANGACHI MFUNI and CORKY SIEMASZKO
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Thursday, October 4th 2007, 11:05 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Print Email Suggest a Story
Det. Daniel Rivera was this close to being shot between the eyes. Because he turned in time, he was only grazed in the forehead.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fellow cop William Gonzalez was also hurt in the shootout.
Suspect Jermaine Taylor jumped out of second-floor window (top one in picture) in an attempt to escape, police say. He tried to leap on to the fence but lost his grip and fell, breaking his hip.
One Bronx cop escaped death by inches and another was wounded Wednesday in a wild gunfight with a wanted man that turned a narrow alley into "a shooting gallery," police said.
Just 20 feet separated the cops from the suspect as the two sides squeezed off 19 shots - a furious fusillade that ended when one of the cops' shots knocked the suspect's pistol out of his hand and severed his middle finger.
"It was like rapid fire, one after the other," said Victor Vila, 65, who lives nearby. "It sounded like cannons. I've never heard shots like that."
When it was over, Detective Daniel Rivera was bleeding from a graze wound to his forehead and Detective William Gonzalez was clutching his bleeding right shin. Nearby, suspected gunman Jermaine Taylor, 18, was sprawled on the ground with a broken hip, police said.
Police sources said Rivera just missed being killed. He turned his head just in time and instead of being shot between the eyes he was merely wounded, they said.
"A fraction of a degree of the gun, we would not be here relieved," Mayor Bloomberg said at the hospital. "We would be here praying."
Rivera and Gonzalez, both 41, were treated at St. Barnabas Hospital and released. A graze wound could clearly be seen on Rivera's forehead.
A third detective involved in the shooting, Thomas Murphy, 37, was treated for ringing in his ears.
Taylor was in stable condition at Jacobi Medical Center. He was charged with two counts of attempted murder of a police officer and illegal possession of a weapon.
"The shooting appears to be within department guidelines for the use of deadly force," Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne said.
Gonzalez's wife, Mirta, said the warrant team her husband is with have worked together for years.
"You could worry about it all the time, but you would lose all function," she said outside their home. "I'm glad he's okay. I'm glad they're all okay. They are a terrific group of guys."
It was the second gun battle for Rivera. In 1993, he fired his weapon - but didn't hit anybody - while helping capture two Bronx robbery suspects, sources said.
Police said Rivera and Gonzalez, both members of Bronx warrants squad, had been on a stakeout for two days in front of a drug den on Webster Ave., in Tremont.
They knew Taylor could be armed and dangerous because he was wanted in connection with a July 2 bodega shooting that wounded two men.
A little before 5:30 a.m., while Gonzalez and Murphy went to the back of the building, Rivera, another detective and a sergeant knocked on the front door and yelled, "This is the police!"
Taylor knew they were coming because the apartment was equipped with a surveillance camera, and quickly raced to the back of the flat, police said.
When the officers charged inside, the other residents sicced a pit bull named Princess on them, police and witnesses said.
Meanwhile, Rivera ran back outside to join Murphy and Gonzalez behind the building. By the time he got there, Taylor had ripped an air conditioner out of a rear second-floor window and tried to leap onto a high chain-link fence - but lost his grip and crashed.
"He was limping and holding his side," witness Brandon Urbaez, 11, said. "The cops said, 'Freeze, mister!'"
Instead, Taylor squeezed off five shots from a 9-mm. semiautomatic pistol at Gonzalez and Murphy, who fired back five and three times respectively, police said.
Despite having shattered his pelvis, Taylor managed to get up and fire again, grazing Rivera who had just arrived - and who fired five times in return, police said.
Inside the filthy apartment, cops found several bags of pot and a bathtub filled with dog feces. Princess and her two puppies were taken to a shelter. Two of the seven other residents were arrested on outstanding warrants and a third charged with pot possession.
Plastered on one wall was a poster from the movie "Scarface." It showed Al Pacino holding a huge gun and bore the line, "Say hello to my little friend."
agendar@nydailynews.com
Carol's husband sold this cop the Bronx shirt the day before the shoot out. Sorry that the picture did not show up because it shows him wearing it.
