May 11, 2022 | BRONX, NY: An NYPD officer was shot in the arm during an exchange of gunfire with a fleeing suspect in the Bronx Tuesday evening. The injured officer, 32-year-old, Dennis Vargas, was rushed to Lincoln hospital where he was treated and released early Wednesday morning. Vargas is expected to make a full recovery, said police.
Two uniformed NYPD officers patrolling near Third Avenue and Claremont Parkway around 10:45 p.m. attempted to speak with an individual who immediately began to run when approached by one of the officers. A foot chase started and the second officer followed his partner from a police vehicle. The suspect was chased to the vicinity of Bathgate Avenue and Clermont Parkway where the shooting occurred.
According to police officials, as the suspect, now identified as 25-year-old Rameek Smith continued to flee northbound on Bathgate Avenue, there was an exchange of gunfire between the officers and suspect. It was at this time during the incident when one officer was struck by gunfire in the left arm and the male suspect was shot in the head.
Police recovered a 9 millimeter Glock handgun at the scene near the suspect who was transported to St. Barnabas Hospital in critical condition. Mr. Smith would subsequently die from the gunshot injury to the head, police said.
The investigation into this shooting is ongoing.
Video by Daniel Valls (FreedomNews.TV)
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