The suspect, identified as 25-year-old Rameek Smith, died after the Bronx shootout, which transpired around 10:45 pm Tuesday
A New York City police officer was shot in the arm Tuesday night by a career criminal freed ahead of a planned sentencing for a prior gun arrest, city officials said.
The 32-year-old officer, Dennis Vargas, was treated and released from Lincoln Hospital early Wednesday, after a fierce gun battle that left the suspect, identified as 25-year-old Rameek Smith, dead.
The shootout unfolded late Tuesday night, cops said Wednesday, after Vargas and his partner spotted and approached the suspect during their beat in the Bronx neighborhood of Claremont at roughly 10:45 pm.
Cops say Smith – who was arrested in March 2020 for criminal possession of a firearm – then began to run from the officers, spurring Vargas and his partner to give chase.
After about a block-and-a-half, police say Smith suddenly turned around and produced a handgun, letting off two shots at the officers – one of which struck Vargas.
The officers then returned fire, hitting Smith in the head, police said Wednesday. Cops added that the suspect was initially stopped because it appeared he was carrying a weapon.
Smith was arrested and then taken to a hospital, where he later died, officers said.
The 32-year-old officer, Dennis Vargas, was treated and released from Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx early Wednesday, after a fierce gun battle that left the suspect, a career criminal freed ahead of a planned sentencing for a prior gun arrest, dead
Officers gathered outside
