MAYOR RAS J. BARAKA STATEMENT

ON POLICE-INVOLVED SHOOTING ON HAWTHORNE AVENUE AND CLINTON PLACE

“Last night, there was a police-involved shooting on Hawthorne Avenue and Clinton Place during a law enforcement incident involving a vehicle stolen from Connecticut with two adult male suspects, from Queens, New York. While a thorough investigation is underway by the Attorney General’s Office, I can share that after one suspect was arrested and being led away, another suspect jumped into the car and attempted to escape. Police Officers tried to stop him. A struggle ensued and shots were fired. During the incident, the vehicle smashed into a police cruiser and then Hawthorne Elementary School.

“One police officer was admitted to the hospital with a sprained ankle, a second officer treated and released, one suspect is in custody and under arrest, and the other suspect is in the hospital, in critical condition, with a gunshot wound.

“This is a tragedy all around. When an incident such as this happens, it is traumatic for all involved, and its effect ripples out through the community. Our focus will be on providing comfort, relief, and recovery to all those affected and to deter the kind of unlawful actions that lead to these kinds of incidents.”