NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Newly released NYPD body camera footage shows the dramatic moment two police officers exchanged gunfire with a robbery suspect as they chase him around an ice cream truck and shocked passersby.
The shooting took place around 6:19 p.m. in the Bronx on May 19, when two officers responded to a 911 call about a potential armed robbery: a man with a firearm arguing with an employee inside a Boost Mobile store on East 174th Street in East Morrisania.
The footage begins as officers Lewellyn Alvarez and Imran Alli drive up to the cell phone store, where they find suspect Calvin Peterkin, 39, in the doorway. The officers attempt to block Peterkin from leaving, but he pushes by them and flees on foot.
As the officers chase him, Peterkin can be seen holding a handgun in his right hand, dodging past an ice cream truck with its music playing on East 174th Street.
Alvarez catches up to Peterkin on the corner and shouts at him to lower his weapon.
“Put it down! Put it down!” Alvarez yells before shots ring out.
Peterkin allegedly fired two shots at the officers, who in return discharged eight rounds. Peterkin was struck in his left arm and right hand and was grazed in the chest, according to police. Alvarez and Alli were unharmed.
Peterkin managed to escape, with law enforcement tracking him down five days later, according to police. A 9mm handgun was found at the scene of the shooting, which police allege belongs to Peterkin.
Security footage from inside the Boost Mobile location appears to show Peterkin holding the firearm as he confronted an employee.
Peterkin was taken to Bronx Lebanon Hospital for treatment of his injuries and currently faces charges for attempted murder, criminal use of a firearm, criminal possession of a weapon and menacing a police officer.
The NYPD is currently conducting an investigation into whether the officers’ use of force was justified.