Police said two New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers from the 5th and 7th precincts were shot at a robbery scene in Lower East Side, Manhattan on Thursday, August 1. The suspect has been arrested.
Mayor Adams and city police officials held a press conference at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan in the evening on the same day. Authorities stated that the two officers were shot while responding to a robbery incident.
The shooting occurred at 4:15 pm on August 1. Police received a 911 call reporting an armed robbery at an electric bicycle shop located at 91 Canal St in Chinatown.
Upon arrival, multiple victims informed the police that the armed suspect fled north towards Delancey St within the jurisdiction of the 7th precinct. Seven minutes later, the two officers, one from the 5th precinct and the other from the 7th precinct, discovered a male matching the description in front of 167 Eldridge St.
Authorities identified the man as 22-year-old Joshua Dorsett, residing at 46 Madison St, with a record of three prior arrests, the latest in 2022 for illegal possession of contraband. He is a known gang member currently on probation, and police suspect his residence may be a gambling den.
When the two officers approached Dorsett, he pulled out a loaded gun from his pocket, leading to a struggle over the weapon. During the scuffle, the suspect fired, hitting one officer in the thigh and the other in the left leg. Both officers were swiftly transported to Bellevue Hospital for treatment, and their conditions are stable.
The police apprehended the suspect and found a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun at the scene.
Around 4:30 pm on Thursday, residents were asked to avoid the section of Canal St between Chrystie St and Allen St.
“In recent days, there have been several shop robbery cases in this area. Today, three armed black men robbed a shop, one was caught, and the other two fled,” said Mr. Zhang, who works in Chinatown. “Local businesses have been forced to close these days, witnessing such scenes feels terrifying.”
Following the shooting, Chinatown resident JWong posted on social media platform X, stating, “There was another shooting near Columbus Park, where four shelters are located. Three days ago, an 87-year-old Chinese elderly individual was assaulted by a homeless person while going for lunch.”
Chairman of the East Asian Association and Democratic Party leader of the 65th district, Yu Jinshan, expressed relief at the stable condition of the two injured police officers. He criticized the suspect’s criminal history and questioned how he could freely carry a gun and attack officers, crediting luck for their survival amidst New York state’s criminal justice reforms.
He told the press that the deteriorating public safety situation is causing great harm to local residents.
“Especially with a proliferation of vagrants and homeless people, drug rehabilitation centers are breeding grounds for vagrants, bail is waived for minor offenses, police do not arrest, prosecutors do not prosecute, judges are lenient in granting immunity, prisoners are easily released, drug decriminalization, marijuana is rampant, making maintaining public order challenging,” Yu Jinshan stated. “Helpless civilians must remain vigilant, protect themselves, and hope for good luck, relying on divine protection to survive and make a living amidst these challenging circumstances.”
The case is still under investigation.