(PresidentialInsider)- New York City’s violent crime wave continues. This week we learned of the tragic news of a New York Police Department officer being shot in the back on Tuesday night. Reports say that the shooting took place on an intersection between Lafayette Avenue and White Plains Road at around 10:30 p.m.
A 24-year-old man was arrested and taken into custody for shooting Officer Danial Vargas. Reports say that he was previously known to the police and has been charged with several crimes in the past, including attempting to murder a police officer and another felony assault.
The officer survived and was taken to the hospital in stable condition. He is expected to recover.
Despite this, the suspect claims to have not known that the person he shot was a police officer.
…which doesn’t make the shooting any better.
The man, Ajani Jones, was most recently charged with possession of a fake temporary tag last year in Manhattan.
A senior officer from the NYPD who had knowledge of the investigation said that the suspect told officers he was only carrying the gun to protect himself after a friend of his was shot recently.
ADVISORY: Please avoid the area of Lafayette Avenue & White Plains Road in the Bronx due to an ongoing police investigation. Expect emergency vehicles and traffic in the area. More information when available. pic.twitter.com/vCsOrOK56R
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) January 27, 2021
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio gave a press conference on Tuesday evening and said that the 31-year-old officer is tasked with getting guns off the streets to save lives and was a six-year veteran of the police force.
Paul DiGiacomo, the head of the Detectives’ Union, released a statement saying that the hooting should be a “wake-up call” for elected politicians and how they need to provide additional support to police officers.
Are you listening Mayor de Blasio? President Biden?
“A cop shot and injured last night in the Bronx as he and fellow officers searched for armed criminals should be the wake-up call our elected officials need to start backing the police,” he said.
“Our men and women in blue put it all on the line for every New Yorker. They need support! We’re thankful our @NYCPBA brother will recover from his serious injuries. Our prayers are with him,” he added.
The nation has yet to hear a plan from newly-inaugurated President Biden to increase support for the nation’s police officers, but we have heard plenty about climate change so far.
