NYPD officers fatally shoot suspect in Manhattan: officials

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) – Police shot and killed a suspect who opened fire at NYPD officers after he barricaded himself inside an apartment in Manhattan Thursday, officials said.

The shooting happened at an apartment building at 206 Eldridge St. on the Lower East Side, according to the NYPD.

The suspect, 43-year-old Kent Edwards, was wanted in connection with a previous shooting that happened outside the bar Iggy’s on the Upper East Side back on Oct. 18, police said. In that incident, Edwards allegedly shot and injured a man after getting into an argument with a couple over a photo booth inside the bar, police said.

Police tracked down Edwards on Thursday to an apartment on Eldridge Street, where he barricaded himself inside a bathroom around 11:45 a.m., NYPD officials said.

"Residents there stated that [Edwards] had locked himself in the bathroom and was in possession of a firearm," NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. "Warrant members quickly pulled out of the location, established a perimeter, notified emergency services and hostage negotiation."

Videos from the scene show officers in tactical gear surrounded the back of the building as more first responders swarmed the street out front.

Edwards remained barricaded in the bathroom for about two and a half hours, authorities said. Police tried to get Edwards to surrender peacefully, but instead he came out and fired at the officers, hitting one officer in a bulletproof vest, according to Kenny. Police returned fire and killed Edwards, NYPD officials said.

The police officers had protective equipment with them that prevented the bullets fired by Edwards from seriously injuring them, according to officials.

"It was a close call. You have three bullets into the bunkers, which could've easily been three bullets inside our officers," NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said.

Edwards had 11 prior arrests dating back to 1995, with his last arrest happening in February for a rape, according to Kenny. He was also wanted in connection with a sexual abuse incident this year in Manhattan and a strangulation incident in Queens last year, Kenny said.

Police said Edwards was not living in the building but was hiding out there. He was pronounced dead at a hospital after he was shot twice.

The officers involved in the shooting were also taken to the hospital but are expected to be OK.

Noel Munoz, whose aunt lives in the building, described what he heard when gunshots rang out.

"We very nervous. We were very scared, stationary in the tub. We kind of froze," Munoz said. "It was a kind of a large bang. It sounded like they had penetrated and then one shot went off and then a barrage of other shots went off after that."