According to police, a man suspected of robbing a Manhattan mahjong parlor and stealing purses from women, engaged in a struggle with two New York City police sergeants on Thursday, resulting in the sergeants being shot.
According to Joseph Kenny, Chief of Detectives for the NYPD, one sergeant was shot in the groin and will be kept in the hospital for observation overnight. The other sergeant sustained a minor leg injury from a bullet graze and will be released tomorrow. Interestingly, both of them were struck by the same bullet. It’s good news that they are both expected to fully recover.
During a news conference at Bellevue Hospital, where the sergeants were receiving medical attention, Police Commissioner Edward Caban emphasized that today serves as yet another reminder of the daily dangers faced by the New York City police officers who work tirelessly to keep citizens safe.
According to Caban, the sergeants are currently in high spirits. However, he emphasized that the situation could have easily taken a turn for the worse.
According to Kenny, the wounded sergeants and other officers were able to restrain 22-year-old Joshua Dorsett, who was identified as the suspect, without any shots being fired. Dorsett was then taken to a police station for questioning. Kenny also mentioned that a Taurus semi-automatic pistol was found at the scene by the police.
Dorsett hasn’t been listed with a lawyer on online court records. However, a message was left for the lawyer representing a man with the same name in another case seeking a comment. According to Kenny, Dorsett had a mandatory monthly visit with his probation officer merely hours before the shooting incident.
At approximately 4:23 p.m., a shooting occurred following a 911 call reporting an armed man robbing women of their purses in a business located on the second floor of a building on Canal Street. The incident took place in Lower Manhattan, a bustling east-west thoroughfare. The police were immediately alerted and responded to the call.
According to Kenny, the security camera footage revealed a man brandishing a firearm and announcing his intention of robbing the place. He proceeded to point the gun at several women and snatch their purses. The police suspect that the mahjong parlor may have been singled out as a target due to the fact that money exchanges hands during the games played there.
When the police officers arrived, the man had already left the scene. However, a person matching his description was seen a block away approximately seven minutes later, according to Kenny. The two sergeants then rushed towards Dorsett, pressed him against a parked car, and apprehended him.
Just before rush hour, Canal Street was thrown into chaos by a shooting incident. The area, which is known for its bustling shops, restaurants, and street vendors, was quickly cordoned off by police using vehicles and yellow crime scene tape. Investigators scoured nearby delis for surveillance footage, hoping to find clues to the shooting.
