New York: A Pakistani-American New York police officer was shot in the head while on duty on Saturday, the city’s police commissioner said Tuesday night.
Adeed Fayyaz, 26, a five-year veteran of the New York Police Department (NYPD), had been hospitalized in Brooklyn for three days since Saturday night’s shooting. He was married and father of two young children.
“Police Officer Adeed Fayaz was a father, a husband, a son, and protector of our great city,” said NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell. “Officer Fayaz was shot on Saturday night and succumbed to his injuries today. Our department is deeply saddened by his passing, and his family and loved ones are in our prayers.”
Police Officer Adeed Fayaz was a father, a husband, a son, and a protector of our great city.
— Commissioner Sewell (@NYPDPC) February 7, 2023
Officer Fayaz was shot Saturday night and he tragically succumbed to his injuries today.
Our Department deeply mourns his passing, and his family and loved ones are in our prayers. pic.twitter.com/zK9BdHwvM1
A 38-year-old New York City man, Randy Jones, was arrested Monday in connection with the shooting, officials said at a news conference.
About 500 police officers of Pakistani origin serve in the NYPD.
NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said Fayaz was in contact with a person selling a Honda Pilot on Facebook Marketplace for $24,000. On Saturday, the officer and his brother-in-law met with the man, who jokingly asked if he was carrying a gun, to which both men said no, Essig said.
“At that point, our perpetrator grabs (Fayaz) by the head, puts a gun to his head, and demands money,” Essig said.
According to Essig, when Fayaz said he had no money, the man pointed a gun at his brother-in-law.
“Officer Fayaz managed to escape, at which point the man opened fire and hit him in the head,” Essig said. “As (the suspect) fled, he continued to fire at both the officer and his brother-in-law.”
According to Essig, the brother-in-law pulled a gun from Fayaz’s hip and fired at least six times. The assailant fled the scene. He added that video from the dashboard camera of the brother-in-law’s car helped detectives identify the car in which the assailant fled.
The assailant reportedly dragged both the officer and his brother-in-law down an alleyway where the shooting took place. There were no cameras in the street.
