A police chase that started in New York City ended on Long Island with the fatal shooting of the driver, while seven police officers and a civilian were hospitalized, authorities said.
Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder explained during a press conference on Saturday that the pursuit began late Friday, just after 11 p.m., in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens. New York City officers had attempted to stop the driver, who then tried to ram two officers with his vehicle, injuring them before fleeing the scene, Ryder said.
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Nassau County officers later managed to box in the fleeing driver, but the suspect struck two police vehicles and forced two officers to dive out of the way, Ryder reported. The driver continued, hitting another police car, driving in the wrong direction, and colliding with a civilian vehicle.
The chase came to an end in Massapequa, where the driver lost control and the car came to a stop on a berm, according to Ryder. Officers attempted to get the driver to exit the vehicle, but after refusing to comply, the driver was fatally shot.
Describing the driver’s actions as reckless, Ryder said, “He was driving at high speeds, ramming police and civilian cars, and ultimately lost control of his own vehicle.”
Five Nassau County police officers, two New York City officers, and the civilian driver were transported to hospitals. Ryder detailed that one officer was struck by the suspect’s vehicle, two were injured while diving for cover, and three were treated for trauma following the police shooting.
The identity of the driver has not yet been released. The New York State Attorney General’s office has been notified and is conducting an investigation. Ryder added that video footage from the pursuit is being collected, including body camera recordings from officers and other surveillance along the route.
