Elderly Woman Dies in Williamsburg Blaze

WILLIAMSBURG — An elderly woman was severely burned in a late-night fire on Saturday in a Brooklyn high-rise, officials said.

Firefighters responded to a residential fire at the Taylor-Wythe Houses, a NYCHA building, on Ross Street at 11:10 p.m., and extinguished a fire inside a 12th floor apartment, police said. 

Upon putting out the fire, rescuers discovered Nelly Bermudez, 78, who had suffered from severe burns in the blaze, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Fire Marshall will determine the cause of the fire, but no criminality was suspected, police said, and no other apartments were impacted by the fire, police said.

An investigation is ongoing, police said.

Possible 8th Incident in Series of Violent Elevator Robberies

Police say a 57-year-old man was assaulted and robbed inside an elevator in East Harlem Saturday morning, in what may be the eighth incident in a series of violent elevator robberies in the area.

The man suffered a broken nose in the attack inside a building on East 97th Street. The mugger took $200 from the victim, along with his wallet and his cell phone. The victim was treated and released from Metropolitan Hospital.

Police have not confirmed whether this attack is connected with a series of seven other recent elevator robberies on the Upper East Side and in East Harlem, in which Asian men and women were apparently targeted.

On Thursday, police say a 27-year-old woman was assaulted and robbed in an elevator in her apartment building on the Upper East Side. Once inside the elevator, the suspect attacked the woman, then fled with her purse and iPhone.

Police have released surveillance video of the suspect, taken after the first incident, reported on Jan. 17. 

In each incident, the suspect followed the victim into an elevator and assaulted them, punching them in the face and head. The suspect then forcefully took valuables like cell phones, wallets, keys and cash, before running away. 

The victims have ranged in age from 27 to 64-years-old. Each victim was taken to area hospitals to be treated for injuries to the face. 

On Saturday, Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito and other community leaders held a press conference in East Harlem denouncing the attacks.

"This kind of violence against our Asian American neighbors, and against any members of our community, will not be tolerated," said Mark-Viverito. "This attacker must be stopped, and we need the entire community to remain vigilant until he is apprehended."

The suspect in the first seven incidents is described as being between 25 to 35 years old, 200 to 240 pounds, and was last seen wearing a black jacket and blue jeans.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect pictured in the surveillance photo is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS or at nypdcrimestoppers.com.

Police: Nine Days Since Last Reported New York City Homicide

Murders in the city have gone cold.

Police say nine days have gone by since the last reported New York City homicide.

The last reported murder was on January 16 in the Bronx.

A woman was found dead Friday in Brooklyn. Her death is being called suspicious, but with no obvious signs of trauma, the cause of death hasn't been determined.

The only other recent time the city saw a streak of nine days was after Hurricane Sandy.

The police commissioner said there's no single reason for the streak, but didn't deny that the cold weather may be playing a factor.

Records show only 18 murders in the city so far this year.

The city is coming off a year with 414 murders, the lowest total since record keeping began.

By: NY1 News

FDR Crash Involving NYPD Cruiser Leaves 2 Cops Injured

A car crash on the FDR Drive involving an NYPD cruiser early Saturday morning left two officers injured, authorities said.

The officers were responding to an earlier accident involving two cars on the northbound lane of the FDR near 101st Street at around 4 a.m., when an SUV slammed into their cruiser.

The two officers were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, police said.

The driver of the SUV, a woman in her 20s, was arrested for driving under the influence, officials said.

Northbound lanes on the FDR were temporarily shut down as police investigated the crash.

Construction Worker Dies in Fall at Astoria Building Site

ASTORIA — A construction worker died Thursday afternoon after falling 12 feet at an Astoria building site, officials said.

The worker, who was not immediately identified, fell through a hole in the floor at a construction site at 45-11 Broadway, near 46th Street, about 3:15 p.m., the FDNY said.

He suffered serious injuries to his head and went into cardiac arrest, the FDNY said.

He was rushed to Mount Sinai Queens, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Amile Zouten, 36, was eating in a restaurant nearby when a woman rushed in and screamed that a construction worker had fallen and was bleeding badly.

Zouten said he rushed out and saw emergency responders doing CPR on the worker as they loaded him into an ambulance.

"His head was covered in blood," Zouten said. "They tried to revive him. It's sad."

Massive Fire Displaces Families From Amsterdam Ave. Apartment Building

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — A massive fire tore through an Amsterdam Avenue building late Wednesday, leaving several apartments badly scorched and families displaced on a freezing night.

The Washington Heights blaze broke out about 8 p.m. on the second floor of 2440 Amsterdam Ave. and quickly spread through the walls of the five-story building, an FDNY spokesman said.

Jose, a 28-year-old who's lived in the building since childhood, was getting ready to walk his dogs when he saw smoke filling the hallway.

"We got everyone out of the second floor," Jose said. "Then we saw that the fire was spreading, so we ran up to the third floor and saw more smoke.  We were worried the fire was going wall to wall, so we had to evacuate everybody.

"I was carrying old women down the stairs. I don't know their names, but we're all neighbors here so we stick together," he added. "It was scary, but I just did what I had to do."

Nearly 10 apartments were scorched in the blaze and several others sustained water damage, fire officials on the scene said Wednesday night.

The Red Cross was on the scene to provide assistance to those tenants who were displaced by the fire.

Four firefighters sustained minor injuries and were taken to New York Presbyterian Hospital - Weill Cornell, an FDNY spokesman said. A civilian was also injured in the fire, but refused medical treatment at the scene.

The inferno was brought under control about 11 p.m., three hours later.

Taxi Driver Killed, 1 Person Injured in Manhattan Crash

A taxi driver was killed and another man was injured in an early morning car crash Sunday in Manhattan.

Police say a driver in a sport utility vehicle traveling on East 26th Street around 2 a.m. hit a taxi that was double-parked. The taxi shot forward, hitting the cab driver who had been standing in front of it.

Authorities say the taxi driver, 35-year-old Mir Hoosain of Queens, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The SUV and the taxicab hit three other parked cars. A man who was in one of the parked cars was hospitalized in stable condition.

No arrests have been made and an investigation into the accident is ongoing.

Man Charged in Death of LI Boy, 4, Found Alone

A 31-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Adonis Reed, a 4-year-old boy found alone inside a Long Island apartment last week.

At his arraignment Saturday, prosecutors said Jonathan Thompson had been babysitting Adonis when he punched the child twice in the abdomen after the boy refused to take a nap. Thompson, who pleaded not guilty, kept his head down and remained quiet. 

Two-dozen people who identified themselves as friends and family of the 4-year-old packed the courtroom and screamed threats and curses at Thompson as he was remanded into custody without bail.

Adonis was found unconscious on a couch in an apartment in a private house on a quiet Amityville street on Wednesday afternoon. Thompson allegedly called 911 and fled the apartment before authorities arrived. Adonis was pronounced dead at a hospital, and his death was classified as a homicide.

The medical examiner's report showed multiple lacerations on the child's liver, prosecutors said.

Authorities say Thompson is the boyfriend of the child's guardian and godmother. His home address is the same as the residence where the boy was found. He was arrested in Brooklyn Friday with the help of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Thompson's prior criminal record includes convictions for robbery, grand larceny and identity theft.

Adonis' aunt, Leshawn Reed, said the boy was in the care of his godmother because his biological mother was homeless.

Neighbor Eric Erath told reporters on Thursday that he used to see the little boy and his 6-year-old sister occasionally playing around the house, but he couldn't recall the last time. "Every time I used to see them, they were both very cheerful," said Erath, who lives next door.

He said he never saw any signs of abuse. "I do not believe anything like that happened," he said.

The boy's sister was in the custody of county child welfare officials, police said. It wasn't clear if the children lived at the apartment.

Photo Credit: NBC 4 New York/Newsday

Robbers Targeting the Elderly in the Bronx

Police are searching for a pair of robbery suspects who pose as various types of workers and prey on elderly people in the Bronx.
   
In one of the robberies, police say a robber told his 71-year-old victim he was a worker who needed to fix a neighbor's fence. In another robbery, the thieves posed as Department of Environmental Protection workers, robbing 73-year-old Elide Derasmo and her husband.

“We obviously believed them and we let them in,” said Derasmo. “When I saw the second guy leave I knew I had gotten taken for something.”

In each of the robberies the suspects made off with cash and jewelry, police said.

All of the victims were elderly and no one was injured in any of the robberies.

“I hope that they catch these bums,” Derasmo said.

Retired Postal Worker Killed by Garbage Truck in Chelsea

CHELSEA — A recently retired postal worker was run over by a garbage truck in Chelsea Friday afternoon, according topolice and witnesses. 
Thomas Berry, 66, was crossing Ninth Avenue at West 29th Street just before 2:30 p.m. when he tripped and fell into the rear wheels of a slow-moving truck heading south on Ninth Avenue, police said.
Berry was rushed to Beth Israel Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
"It wasn't [the truck driver's] fault," said Berry's former coworker, John Carmitchel, 55, a building inspector for the postal service, who witnessed the crash. "He didn't see him."
Another witness, who was standing nearby, said Berry "wasn't moving at all" after being hit.
The driver of the 2007 Mac truck remained on the scene and there was no criminality, police said.
In July 2011, Marilyn Dershowitz, Alan Dershowitz's sister-in-law, was struck and killed by a mail truck at the same intersection while riding her bike.
Berry's friends described him as kind and gentle.
"He wouldn't hurt a soul," said Carmitchel, who added that Berry is a "great guy."

7-Year-Old Boy Brings Gun to Queens Elementary School, NYPD Says

WAVECREST — A 7-year-old boy brought a gun to a Queens elementary school Thursday morning, the NYPD said.

The unidentified boy was carrying the .22-caliber handgun in his backpack when he showed up to the school at 535 Briar Place, near Collier Avenue, police said.

About 10 a.m., a school safety agent confiscated the weapon. No one was injured, police said.

The boy was not threatening anyone with the gun, authorities said.

It was unclear how the boy got his hands on the gun or to whom it belonged, police said.

The NYPD was investigating the incident.

Partial Collapse at 194-Year-Old Building on Canal Street, FDNY Says

TRIBECA — A wall of a nearly two-century-old building on Canal Street collapsed Wednesday afternoon, the FDNY said, following years of complaints from neighbors and government agencies that it was falling into disrepair.

A wall within 502 Canal St. collapsed about 12:30 p.m., dropping a metal roll-down gate onto the sidewalk, a fire spokesman said.

The landmarked building has been vacant for years, and no one appeared to be injured in the incident, authorities said.

In 2010, the Landmarks Preservation Commission found that the building's facade was so badly deteriorated that it was in danger of collapsing.

The building's landlord, Ponte Equities, quickly agreed to make repairs, which satisfied the commission at the time. 

But on March 23, 2012, the landlord was written up for failing to maintain the building's "defective brickwork," according to the Department of Buildings website. The landlord received additional violations in July and October of 2012 after parts of the building fell off and landed on the sidewalk, according to DOB records.

Ponte Equities did not immediately return a call for comment.

The three-story brick building was built in 1819 for John Y. Smith, who ran a starch and hair powder business out of the ground floor and lived with his family above, according to the LPC.

Neighbors have long been concerned about the crumbling structure, said Misha Lopato, 22, who lives in a nearby residential building. Locals have repeatedly called 311 about the rundown Ponte Equities' building, which has been covered with a scaffolding for the past 12 years, Lopato said.

He said he and others in the neighborhood are hoping the city will condemn the structure and tear it down.

"At this point, the whole neighborhood just wants this building gone," he said. "[Ponte] hasn't done any renovations on it. It just looks bad. and more importantly, it's dangerous." 

NY Police Group Requsts Journal News To Remove Gun Map

NY - A newspaper’s map pinpointing residents who hold gun permits could lead ex-convicts to the homes of the officers who caught them, a coalition of police organizations said Tuesday.

The Affiliated Police Association of Westchester County demanded that The Journal News take the map down from its website. In a separate announcement, the county executive also called for the map to be shut down.

The police group’s vice president, Robert Buckley, said the posting endangers the families of active and retired “police officers, parole officers, probation officers, correction officers, court officers, district attorneys’ investigators, ATF officers, CIA agents, U.S. marshals and FBI agents.”

“We are the ones who put the criminals away,” Buckley said at a news conference in White Plains, backed by about 110 members. “We are talking about some of the most ruthless murderers, rapists, pedophiles, organized crime figures and gang members. ... Some of them may want to retaliate.”

He said inmates have been telling Rockland County correction officers, “We know where you live. ... Your wife and kids are home alone.”

Buckley said some active officers — including the Rockland correction officers — are required to have a pistol permit for their gun. All officers must have a permit to carry a gun after retirement, he said.

Last month, The Journal News published an interactive map listing the names and addresses of residents of Westchester and Rockland with handgun permits. That prompted a debate on what records should be made public and led to some threats against the paper and its staffers. A third county, Putnam, has refused to turn over similar data on its residents.

County Executive Robert Astorino sent a letter to Janet Hasson, president and publisher of The Journal News Media Group, acknowledging that the newspaper had the right to publish the information but saying it was “misguided.”

“Whatever your purpose in publishing the map, surely three weeks was enough to make your point,” the county executive said.

The Journal News map prompted some privacy provisions in a gun control bill that passed the state Legislature on Tuesday. Under the bill, some permit owners — including police officers — would be allowed to keep their information private.

Buckley called that “a victory for the law enforcement community.”

He said the coalition might sue the newspaper if the map led to any confrontations at officers’ homes.

A spokesman said The Journal News had no comment.

Man, Woman Found Shot in Head in Bronx Car

Police say a man and a woman were found fatally shot inside a car in the Bronx early Wednesday.

 

Police responded to a 911 call of a person shot in front of 3328 Perry Ave. When they arrived, they found the victims unconscious and unresponsive inside a parked car.

 

Both victims, identified as 30-year-old Jason Rivera and 20-year-old Jennifer Rivera, had a gunshot wound to the head, police said.

 

They were pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

 

No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.

Man Hit by Subway After Defecating Between Cars

Police say a 31-year-old man defecating between cars on the uptown 6 train was killed when he fell onto the tracks and was struck by the train he was riding.

Witnesses tell police the victim had been defecating between the cars when he fell just after 4 p.m. as the train was leaving the 125th Street station.

In a separate incident minutes earlier across the same platform, police say a 50-year-old homeless man was seen climbing out of the Bronx-bound 5 express track, injured and bleeding.

Police say the man had a broken pelvis and gashes. He told police he's not sure what happened, and was taken to Harlem Hospital.

The circumstances surrounding that incident are unclear. Service on the 4, 5, and 6 trains was restored Tuesday night after earlier delays and disruptions.

"The platform was just packed with people," one rider said. "It didn't look good for anybody down there."

Photo Credit: NBC 4 New York

Bronx fake-cop theft ring used car sporting 'James Bond'-style device to hide license plate

A brazen band of robbers who allegedly posed as cops to rip off drug dealers got busted in The Bronx with a fake unmarked police car sporting a “James Bond”-style device to hide its license plate.

The Ford Crown Victoria, which also has low-profile flashing lights, has a special button that lets the driver activate a retractable piece of steel to cover its rear plate, a source told The Post.

The car was among a huge stash of phony law-enforcement gear seized during the take-down, including a police badge, four shirts emblazoned with the word “POLICE,” two tactical vests like cops wear, a set of metal handcuffs and multiple plastic zip-tie handcuffs, a hydraulic battering ram and a “rabbit pump” that cops used to break down doors.  

The haul of dozens of items, which also included six loaded handguns, is believed to be the largest of its kind ever recovered from a theft crew of fake cops.

Manhattan DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Crowell called the crooks “extremely violent, armed and sophisticated,” saying they “tried to conceal themselves as cops to rob, steal and plunder.

“They were the drug world’s version of a James Bond-style robbery crew,” Crowell added.

A source told The Post the DEA is investigating whether a New Jersey cop is tied to those arrested. Court papers say 16 ring members were nabbed Tuesday night following a sting operation in which a confidential informant duped alleged ringleader Javion Camacho, 26, into thinking they could intercept and steal a massive shipment of heroin.

During a Dec. 17 meeting in a Manhattan restaurant, Camacho, a reputed Latin Kings member from New Jersey known as “King Kong,” told the informant he had a “crew of police impersonators who would be able to carry out the robbery,” according to the Manhattan federal-court complaint.

During another meeting at the restaurant on Jan. 2, the informant said the drug shipment could total 40 kilos, prompting Camacho’s older brother, Julio -- also a reputed Latin King known as “King Honesty” -- to allegedly remark that they could “take over Jersey City” with that much heroin.

Julio, 27, also asked the informant if it was OK if the intended robbery victims “got ‘laid out’”-- meaning killed -- the complaint says.

On Tuesday night, Javion allegedly told the informant “that there was a police officer on the robbery crew in case they needed to shoot someone,” but the feds said none of those arrested were actually cops.

After he was arrested, Javion -- who in 2007 was convicted on a reduced charge in the fatal shooting of his cousin -- admitted he had been caught “red-handed,” court papers say.           

One Dead in 'Suspicious' 5-Alarm Fire on Spring Street,

One person was killed and nine people were hurt in a "suspicious" five-alarm fire on Spring Street Thursday evening, FDNY officials said.

The blaze broke out at 41 Spring St., a five-story building between Mulberry and Mott streets, about 6:40 p.m., an FDNY spokesman said.

The fire started on the second floor of the building — which has a Pinkberry frozen yogurt shop on the ground floor and eight apartments above — and it quickly spread both vertically and horizontally, FDNY officials said.

Flames shot from the windows as 200 firefighters raced to the scene to battle the blaze, and smoke clouded the air for blocks, witnesses said.

One person was pronounced dead at the scene after being found on one of the upper floors, the FDNY said.

Nine other people, including seven firefighters, were taken to New York Downtown Hospital with minor injuries including smoke inhalation, the FDNY said.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control by about 9:20 p.m., a spokesman said.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known. Both the FDNY and the NYPD were investigating after deeming the blaze suspicious, an FDNY spokesman said.

The fire was particularly heavy in the rear of the building, the FDNY said.

Robin Goldberg, who lives on Broome Street, heard the fire engines and then looked out her window to see the blaze.

"I saw flames shooting out of the top of the building," she said. "It was so intense."

On Thursday evening, Spring Street was closed between Lafayette and Elizabeth streets, and Mulberry Street was closed between Kenmare and East Houston streets, the city's Office of Emergency Management said.

Child Among Two Shot in Bedford-Stuyvesant

BROOKLYN — Two people, including a young child, were shot in broad daylight in Bedford-Stuyvesant Thursday, authorities said.

The gun violence erupted on Lafayette and Marcy avenues, near Herbert von King Park, just after 2 p.m., the FDNY said.

The conditions of the victims, who were taken to Kings County Hospital, were not immediately clear, but sources said that the wounds appeared to be minor.

Police: Man Robbed, Killed On Park Slope Street

Police in Brooklyn are looking for the person responsible for robbing and killing a Long Island man Wednesday night.

Investigators say Jesus Morales was found on 18th Street in Park Slope.

Police say his wallet and jewelry were taken, and he apparently hit his head on the pavement after being shoved to the ground.

The 67-year-old was pronounced dead at Lutheran Medical Center.

Sources say Morales was in Brooklyn looking to buy a car.

Anyone with information on the case should contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS, or text CRIMES and then enter TIP577, or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.

By: NY1 News

Crane Collapses Behind Pepsi Sign in Queens, 7 Hurt

A crane has collapsed in Long Island City, Queens, injuring as many as seven people on a construction site behind the famed Pepsi-Cola sign, authorities say.

Officials describe the equipment as a mobile crane unit and say it collapsed shortly before 2:30 p.m. onto the construction site below, at 46th Avenue and Center Boulevard.

Matthew Knell, who lives across from the construction site, said he "heard a big bang" and ran to the window, where he saw workers running from the crane.

Randall Todd said he was walking his dogs nearby when he heard the sound of what he described as breaking metal.

He looked over and saw "the top horizontal arm of the crane dropping, but it folded on itself, accordion-style, including the vertical tower, which seemed to snap in half."

The cause of the collapse was not immediately clear.

 

Photo Credit: Matthew Knell

Dozens Hurt as Ferry Hits Wall Street Dock, FDNY Says

DOWNTOWN — A packed commuter ferry slammed into a Downtown dock Wednesday, hurting as many as 57 people, officials said.

At least one person was critically injured.

The Seastreak ferry slammed into the dock as it pulled into Pier 11/Wall Street, anFDNY spokesman said. It was carrying 343 passengers, police said.

Bill McKenzie, 62, a bond broker from New Jersey, was on his way to work in the Financial District. When the ship hit, he was flung forward and hit his face.

"I was wrenched back and forward. It was so fast, it was a blur," he said, nursing a bloodied nose.

"The people standing on the stairwell, waiting to get off, they were flung forward. There were bodies flying everywhere."

He said the ship was pulling in like normal until the hit, and the crew helped guide passengers off the boat after it happened.

"You're never prepared for anything like this. You're just standing around, talking to your friends."

Ashley Furman, who was also aboard the ferry at the time of the accident, walked away uninjured but looked dazed and shaken.

"I was standing on the boat facing the bar, we were pulling in like we do every day," Furman said.

"The next thing I knew, I was 6 feet in the air. I felt like I was in a movie."

"People were flying," said commuter Perry Hoyt, who was on the boat with a friend. She was unhurt, but her companion suffered back and neck injuries, she said.

Seastreak's website says it runs service from Atlantic Highlands, on the Jersey Shore, to Manhattan.

Paramedics rushed to South Street and Gouverneur Lane about 8:45 a.m. They were still on scene roughly an hour later, officials said.

They were assessing at least 50 people to see if they were injured, a fire official said.

Seastreak didn't immediately comment on the accident, but said that it would release a statement shortly.

4 Hurt When Car Smashes Through BK Dunkin Donuts

An out-of-control car crashed through the front of a Dunkin Donuts store in Brooklyn Tuesday evening, hurting four customers inside, three of them seriously, authorities said. 

The vehicle was crossing at the intersection of Linden Boulevard and Rockaway Avenue in Brownsville at about 6:30 p.m. when it lost control and smashed through the front window of the store at 1427 Linden Blvd., police said.

The four injured customers were taken to Brookdale Hospital, police said. One of them had only minor injuries.

Police are investigating. No charges have yet been filed. 

Photo Credit: NBC 4 New York

Two Pedestrians Struck by Chinatown Bus Near Manhattan Bridge, Police Say

CHINATOWN — Two pedestrians were struck by a Chinatown bus and injured at the foot of the Manhattan Bridge Monday night, police said.

The Fung Wah vehicle hit a man and a woman near Canal Street and Bowery just before 11 p.m., according to an NYPDspokesman.

Both victims were rushed to New York Presbyterian - Weill Cornell Medical Center.

One of the victims, a 57-year-old woman, was critically injured while the other pedestrian, a 63-year-old man, was stable, police said.

Neither victim was identified.

The 50-year-old driver, who remained at the scene of the accident, was issued a summons for failing to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, cops said.

3 Dead, 3 Injured in Brooklyn Car Crash

Three people are dead after an early morning car wreck in Brooklyn.

The crash happened at 2 a.m. Saturday in Gravesend, where police say an Acura with four occupants ran a red light and collided with a Toyota carrying 2 people at the intersection of Avenue U and East 5th Street.

The collision was so forceful, several other parked vehicles including a city bus were damaged.

Police say two men and a woman died at the scene. Three more people were taken to Lutheran Hospital, including one in critical condition.

Two of the victims have been identified as 26-year-old Andre Capers-Jones, of Brooklyn, and 24-year-old Leonora Lavaud, also of Brooklyn. The identity of the third victim has not been released pending family notification.

It was not clear if drugs or alcohol played any role in the crash. An investigation of the accident is ongoing, police said.

2 Men Shot, 1 Fatally in Queens Restaurant

Two men were shot, one fatally, inside a Queens restaurant early Saturday morning, authorities said.

Police responded to a call of shots fired inside the El Nuevo restaurant in Jamaica at approximately 2 a.m. and discovered a 27-year-old man shot in the chest and a 38-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the stomach.

The 27-year-old, who police identified as Jony Gonzales, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The other man was taken to Jamaica hospital where he was listed in stable condition.

No arrests have been made and an investigation is ongoing.

Photo Credit: Getty Images / Scott Olson

16-Year-Old Boy Shot and Killed in LES

A 16-year-old boy was shot and killed in Manhattan Friday night, authorities said. 

Police discovered the body of Raphael Ward outside the Baruch Houses on Rivington and Columbia streets in the Lower East Side just before midnight. He had been shot in the chest.

Ward was transported to Beth Israel Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
    
Investigators believe Ward was killed in what appeared to be a robbery or a dispute.

No arrests have been made. Police are searching for the gunman.
 

Photo Credit: NBC 4 New York

"Finest" App Allows Users To Report Crimes, View Stats

New Yorkers can now have the city's finest in the palm of their hand with a new app available for iPhones and iPads.

The New York City Police Department's free app is simply called "NYPD" and lets users read breaking news and view the same alerts that are released to the media.

Users can also submit tips, see crime statistics and browse the department's wanted gallery.

The app is currently available on iTunes.

A version for Android should be out later this year.

4 Firefighters, Civilian Injured in Brooklyn Blaze

Four firefighters and one civilian suffered minor injuries during an early morning fire in Brooklyn.

Firefighters responded to the blaze at the three-story residential building at 1029 42nd Street in Borough Park at 6:32 a.m. Friday.

It rose to a third alarm at 7:21 a.m. and was brought under control at 8:25 a.m.

A fire department spokesman said the fire originated in the basement and spread throughout the building.

Photo Credit: NBCNewYork/@NYRRT 

Police officers shot in separate incidents in New York

                        photo credit: @chessedvemes2

Three cops have been shot in two separate incidents in New York City Thursday evening.
One officer was shot and another was grazed inside the Fort Hamilton Parkway subway station at 62nd Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
A suspect was shot and killed, the MTA said.
Medics rushed the wounded officers to Lutheran Medical Center. They are expected to recover.
N trains are bypassing the station while the NYPD investigates.
In a separate incident earlier Thursday, an off-duty police officer was shot inside a car dealership the Bronx.
Four men in a car pulled up to Boston Road Auto Mall at 3040 Boston Road. Two of the men went inside and forced the owner and the off-duty cop to the ground while they ransacked the dealership, NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said.
In disarming one gunman, the officer was shot in the leg. When officer arrived, they arrested the men, a source said.
The wounded cop was taken to Jacobi Medical Center.

By. MyFoxNY.com

Man Shot After Threatening Police

A person has been critically wounded after being shot by a police officer inside a building in Brooklyn, law enforcement sources say.

Witnesses and sources said the person lunged at the officer with scissors inside the second floor at 48 Fort Greene Pl. in Fort Greene. That's when the officer opened fire. It's not clear how many shots were fired.

The officer had gone into the building after being flagged down by a woman outside as he was driving past. 

The suspect  is believed to have had psychological issues. He was taken to Kings County Hospital, where he remains in critical condition. 

No further information was immediately available. 

Police involved shooting in the Bronx

A man was shot by police in the Bronx Tuesday evening.

A plainclothes officer attempted to stop a vehicle near 183rd Street and Grand Avenue when the driver of the vehicle struck an officer, according to police.

The 31-year old driver was shot in the leg by police. Authorities say the driver fled the scene, but hit a parked car some distance away. He was taken into custody.

The man was taken to Jacobi Hospital and is listed in stable condition.

Authorities say the officer who was hit by the car suffered a leg injury and was also hospitalized where he was treated and released.

MyFoxNY.com