Nassau County PD (NY) Arthur Lopez LODD
Nassau County Police Officer Fatally Shot Near Cross Island Parkway; Suspect In Custody
The Suspect, 33-Year-Old Darrell Fuller, Was Captured Late Tuesday Afternoon
October 23, 2012 8:39 PM
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http://cbsnewyork.files.wordpress.co...ting.jpg?w=300 Police officer Arthur Lopez (L) and shooting suspect Darrell Fuller (R) (credit: Handouts)
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Alex Silverman, Arthur Lopez, Carjacking, Carolyn Gusoff, Cross Island Parkway, Darrell Fuller, ed mangano, James Carver, Nassau County, Nassau County Police, North Shore-LIJ Medical Center, Officer, Paul Walcott, Queens Village, Shot, Sophia Hall
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — The intense manhunt for the suspect who shot a Nassau County emergency services officer Arthur Lopez has ended.
The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Darrell Fuller, was captured late Tuesday afternoon at 111th Avenue and 173rd Street in Queens. As of 8 p.m., he was hospitalized under police watch in guarded condition with gunshot wounds, according to Nassau County police Chief Steven Syrnecki.
WCBS 880′s Sophia Hall reports
At a news conference Tuesday night, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano said the suspect’s gunshot wounds apparently came at his own hands.
“The suspect was found by police with what appeared to be self-inflicted gun wounds,” Mangano said. “One can only wonder how an animal like this could end up on the streets.”
He said Fuller was a “violent felony offender” who did only nine months of prison time for his latest conviction, ”and was paroled again and caused today’s death.”
He was convicted of attempted murder in 2004, and arrested again in 2010 for selling crack cocaine in Nassau County, Mangano said.
The fatal police shooting took place around 11 a.m. Tuesday right on the border between Nassau County and Queens near the southbound entrance ramp of the Cross Island Parkway, officials said.
Authorities said Officer Lopez, 29, was trying to stop a car he saw leaving the scene of an accident.
The incident unfolded when Lopez thought he saw an auto accident and believed a Honda left the scene of that accident, officials said at an afternoon news conference.
Lopez and his partner gave chase as the Honda left Northern Boulevard and headed south on the Cross Island Parkway, officials said. Authorities said the Honda was described to them as “running on its rims” at the time the chase was taking place.
The vehicle the officers were following left the Cross Island Parkway at the Jamaica Avenue exit and then continued west on Jamaica Avenue before making a left turn on 241st Street, officials said.
That is when the officers put on their lights and tried to stop the vehicle. Officials said Lopez approached the vehicle before a short exchange of words with the suspect took place.
WCBS 880′s Alex Silverman reports on the manhunt effort from Queens Village
The suspect exited his vehicle and fired a shot, striking Lopez, officials said.
Officer Lopez’s partner administered First Aid while the suspect returned to the car and fled on the Cross Island Parkway, officials said. Lopez was rushed to North Shore-LIJ Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
http://cbsnewyork.files.wordpress.co...pg?w=420&h=316Queens Village search for cop killer (credit: CBS 2)
“Regular traffic stop, the cop stopped the car basically, and by the time he walked up to the car, he opened fire on him,” witness Paul Walcott told 1010 WINS’ Al Jones. Walcott said the officer was thrown back and crumpled to the ground as the vehicle sped off, Jones reported.
Officials said it did not appear Lopez was wearing a bullet-proof vest at the time of the shooting, WCBS 880′s Alex Silverman reported.
The suspect then shot another motorist in an apparent carjacking while trying to get away, 1010 WINS’ Carol D’Auria reported. That motorist –identified by CBS 2 as Raymond Facey, of Brooklyn — was shot and killed near the Cross Island Parkway and the Belmont Park Race Track.
Officials said the suspect drove the carjacked vehicle a short distance and abandoned it, setting off the massive manhunt. Officers were going door to door in with search dogs in Queens Village. The NYPD and FBI also assisted in the search for the gunman.
http://cbsnewyork.files.wordpress.co...pg?w=420&h=316Police at the scene of the shooting of a Nassau County police officer on Oct. 23, 2012. (credit: Sophia Hall/WCBS 880)
On Monday, thousands gathered to say a final farewell to Nassau County police officer Joseph Olivieri, who was struck and killed while responding to the scene of an accident on the Long Island Expressway last week.
“To say that this is a difficult time is an understatement,” said PBA President James Carver. “This is the second time in a week that we’re going to be burying someone whose parents are still alive.”
Lopez is survived by his father, mother and sister. He was an eight-year veteran, a volunteer firefighter in Dix Hills and also an EMT.
Neighbors, who called the officer “Artie” are devastated by news of his death. They said he lived in Babylon Village for four years in a small ranch. Those in the community said they could not have asked for a friendlier neighbor.
“We moved in a year ago and one day this man showed up…brought us a pie,” neighbor Colleen Donovan told CBS 2′s Carolyn Gusoff.
Neighbors described a handsome, strong hulk of man with an endearing smile and even sweeter disposition.
“Not a bad thing to say about him from the first day he moved in and introduced himself as Artie lopez. He was a neighbor and friend, he will be dearly lost and remembered,” said Michael Cullen.
Nassau County Police Officer Shot Dead Near Cross Island Parkway « CBS New York
2nd LODD for this agency in about a week. So sad.
