Police: Man Shot After Firing at Officers, Spraying Graffiti

A man who was shot by New York City officers early Sunday had fired at police and sprayed graffiti, the police chief said.

A sergeant and two officers were on patrol when they saw two men spraying graffiti in the Bronx, NYPD Chief Terence Monahan told reporters at a briefing.

The men ran when the officers tried to approach them, Monahan said. After a short chase, one officer caught one of the men and attempted to arrest him. The man reportedly pulled out a gun and fired three shots at police.

All three officers fired back, striking the man “numerous times,” Monahan said. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition. The chief said a semi-automatic handgun was recovered at the scene and appeared to have been shot and damaged in the exchange of gunfire.

None of the officers were hurt. Police were looking for the second man who got away.