Image from The Daily News
Police chased down and killed a robbery suspect last night after the suspect allegedly held up a victim. According to the Daily News, "The chase began shortly after 8 p.m., when a customer was robbed at gunpoint after he walked out of the McDonald's at Broadway and 170th St."
Police and the suspect then engaged in what many media outlets are calling a "wild chase" throughout Washington Heights that ended when police tried to block the suspect on West 188th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. Police report that the driver of the silver Cadillac did not stop at the barricade and attempted to run over the officer. The policeman then fired two shots, hitting the victim, who according to the New York Post, had three other passengers in the car with him. The victim died at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital approximately one hour later. The three passengers were taken into custody, but as of yet have not been charged. No weapon was found in the car, but police said they believe one may have been thrown from the car during the chase.
In addition to the suspect's death, two police officers and one pedestrian were reported hurt. A Washington Height's resident who goes by the name Kapers on Twitter, wrote that she was out walking her dogs nearby when she saw the police and a car "flying by" on Audobon and 190th Street and then heard a crash. "Thank GOD we'd decided to take a short walk through Highbridge Park or we'd have been there when it happened," she wrote.
Another Washington Heights resident (playwright, performer and blogger) was also Tweeting about the event under the username Calindrome. She posted a photo (below) from the crime scene and filed several posts about the event as it occurred (read in reverse order).
More to come on this story as it unfolds.
Helicopter's been back and hovering for a bit now.
Countless fire trucks and cops flying around here, sirens blaring. Something's going down around Audubon and 189th in Washington Heights.
Glad you wrote this up.
Posted by: callie kimball | July 23, 2009 at 01:48 PM
Did you guys hear about the shooting at 204th & Sherman on Tuesday? They think it was a dealer, who just lost his mind and started shooting at one of his competition up towards Broadway. No one was hurt, but a lot of the families in the area were pretty shaken up. Summertime!
Posted by: Alison G | July 23, 2009 at 02:09 PM
That Cadillac looks similar to the Cadillac that was blasting music during the AM hours of Monday morning
(Footage of Monday's vehicle driving away)
http://www.justin.tv/clip/42d0afd084330414
Posted by: MyToothDecay | July 24, 2009 at 12:21 AM