According to police, a man suspected of robbing a mahjong parlor in Manhattan and stealing women’s purses struggled with two New York City police sergeants on Thursday, resulting in both sergeants being shot.
According to Joseph Kenny, the NYPD Chief of Detectives, one sergeant was hit in the groin and will be under observation at the hospital overnight, while the other sustained a minor wound on the leg and is expected to be released on Thursday. Interestingly, both sergeants were struck by the same bullet. Fortunately, they are expected to fully recover from their injuries.
During a press conference held at Bellevue Hospital, Police Commissioner Edward Caban emphasized the daily risks that New York City police officers face while carrying out their duties to ensure the safety of the city. Caban made this statement in response to an incident involving two sergeants who were treated at the hospital. This serves as yet another reminder of the dangers that police officers encounter while on the job.
According to Caban, the sergeants are feeling positive despite the recent events. However, he emphasizes that it’s important to acknowledge that things could have taken a turn for the worse.
According to Kenny, the wounded sergeants and other officers were able to restrain the suspect, Joshua Dorsett, who is 22 years old. It is worth noting that no police officers fired at Dorsett during the incident. Upon searching the area, the police found a Taurus semi-automatic pistol, as reported by Kenny. Dorsett was then taken to a police station for further questioning.
Dorsett’s legal representation was not listed in the online court records. We attempted to reach out to a lawyer who was representing a man with the same name in another case for comment, but haven’t received a response yet. According to Kenny, Dorsett had a mandatory monthly meeting with his probation officer just hours before the shooting occurred.
At approximately 4:23 p.m., police received a 911 call reporting an armed man robbing women of their purses on the second floor of a building located on Canal Street. This major east-west thoroughfare is situated in Lower Manhattan. Following the call, the shooting incident occurred, as per the police.
According to Kenny, the security camera footage revealed a man brandishing a gun and declaring his intention to rob. He proceeded to threaten several women by pointing the gun at them and snatching their purses. The investigators suspect that the mahjong parlor could have been singled out due to the possibility of money exchanging hands during the games.
During the struggle, Dorsett retrieved a loaded gun from his front pants pocket. Despite the sergeants’ attempts to disarm him and their repeated commands to show his hands, the gun accidentally discharged, striking one sergeant in the groin and grazing the other sergeant’s leg.
Just before rush hour, Canal Street was disrupted by a shooting incident. Police swiftly cordoned off the bustling boulevard, which is dotted with shops, restaurants, and street vendors, using vehicles and yellow crime scene tape. Investigators combed the area for any evidence related to the shooting and also checked nearby delis for surveillance footage.