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