A man was shot and killed by NYPD officers after he pulled out a gun on them following a dispute along a Bronx street Friday evening, according to police and law enforcement sources.
Just after 7 p.m., plainclothes narcotics officers — in the Hunts Point area for an unrelated investigation — overheard a fight going on near the intersection of Hunts Point Avenue and Gilbert Place, police officials said.
The officers went to approach those involved, which is when one of the men went to a car and grabbed a gun, investigators said. Police identified themselves and told the man to stop, but he opened fire at them.
The officers returned fire at the man, striking him, according to two senior NYPD officials. The man was taken to Lincoln Hospital, where he later died. His name has not yet been released.
Get Tri-state area news delivered to your inbox.> Sign up for NBC New York's News Headlines newsletter.
Police said that the man had fired what they believed to be a real gun at them. However, it turned out to be an air soft (or pellet) gun, not a real firearm. That weapon was recovered at the scene.
Investigators said that the suspect had 10 prior arrests, several of which were felonies.
An investigation is ongoing.
