WASHINGTON: A Pakistani-American officer of the New York police is struggling for life in a city hospital after he was shot in the head on Saturday night during a suspected robbery.
Michael Baldassano, assistant chief of the NYPD Detective Bureau, told reporters on Sunday that the officer, Fayaz Adeed, was on Ruby Street in East New York on Saturday at around 7 p.m. trying to buy a car he saw listed on Facebook Marketplace.
“The arrangements for this purchase were made over a social media platform, and the location was selected. The officer arrived at the location accompanied by a relative,” Mr Baldassano said.
Police said the suspect displayed a gun and demanded money as soon as he saw Mr Adeed. The officer was hit in an exchange of gunfire.
Mr Adeed, a five-year veteran of the NYPD, was then transported to Brookdale Hospital. “He is currently fighting for his life” NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell told reporters.
New York Mayor Eric Adams, who visited the officer at the hospital on Saturday night, said: “Too many illegal guns are in the hands of bad people who are doing bad things” with those weapons.
The Pakistani American Law Enforcement Society (PALS) asked everyone to pray for the wounded police officer.
Mr Adeed, who is in late 20s, has two kids and a wife.
Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2023
