NBC New York’s Romney Smith reports.
BREAKING UPDATE: NYPD Lieutenant Shot Multiple Times by Armed Men in Ski Masks Outside Nightclub
An off-duty New York City police lieutenant was in critical condition following what police say was an attempted robbery outside a nightclub in Queens.
According to a senior NYPD official with knowledge of the preliminary investigation, the off-duty cop was walking to his vehicle near 57th Street and Northern Boulevard in the Woodside section when multiple men approached him. At least one gunman shot him in the leg, chest wrist and grazed him in the head.
The lieutenant who was carrying his service weapon at the time returned fire at one of the suspects and killed him. The man has not been identified.
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According to ShotSpotter, approximately 12 shots were fired. Police and fire vehicles blocked off the area and nightclub goers could be seen leaving the La Boom club around 3 a.m. Thursday.
Clarissa Ramos says there was an artist performing and they closed down the whole venue because of what happened.
"I didn't hear the shots or nothing but they escorted the celebrity out the back and they just told us that we had to leave, that something was going on," Ramos said.
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An investigation is ongoing and police are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrests of anyone involved in the shooting.
No other information was immediately available.
