HAMILTON HEIGHTS, Manhattan (WABC) — An off-duty police officer fired at a trio suspects who allegedly attempted to steal a catalytic converter in Hamilton Heights.
The 31-year-old woman observed three men attempting to steal the catalytic converter from a vehicle just before 5:45 a.m. Tuesday.
The men then approached the off-duty officer’s vehicle.
She began recording the suspects when they came over. Two of them reached into their waistbands in what she said was an intimidating manner.
She pulled her weapon and fired one round from her car. It’s unclear if any of the men were hit.
“We were checking out some stuff out at the building over here, we were working, we heard the shots fired, we looked around and saw a bunch of people running,” said witness Henry Swambart. “The police came. The police were running around. I think one of them was an off-duty police officer and there was a lot of extra cops that came around because of that. There were people running everywhere, trying to run to safety. And the next thing you know the streets were blocked off and they were looking for someone.”
The three suspects fled in a dark colored BMV.
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