‘Brave’ New York cop fatally shot in the head with his own gun while wrestling with a man

The NYPD mourned the loss of one of its own after a cop was fatally shot — possibly with his own gun, including once in the head —  while struggling on the ground with a suspect outside a public housing project in the Bronx early Sunday.

Officer Brian Mulkeen, 33, and his partner were attempting to apprehend an unnamed suspect about 12:30 am near the Edenwald Houses on East 229th Street, police said.

The suspect, at the time, had fled after he was confronted by three other officers who emerged from a patrol car to question him. 

The NYPD mourned the loss of officer Brian Mulkeen, 33, (pictured above), who was fatally shot — possibly with his own gun, including once in the head — while struggling on the ground with a suspect outside a public housing project in the Bronx early Sunday

Police released the photo (above) of a a .32-caliber revolver that was recovered from the ground where the deadly melee had taken place

Police released the photo (above) of a a .32-caliber revolver that was recovered from the ground where the deadly melee had taken place

When Mulkeen and his partner intervened to pursue the suspect, a ‘violent struggle’ on the ground between the cop and suspect began, police said.

Mulkeen can be heard on video footage taken by his body camera yelling, ‘He’s reaching for it – he’s reaching for it,’ said Chief of Department Terence A. Monahan.

Gunfire erupted and Mulkeen was struck three times, possibly with his own gun, as he grappled on the ground with the suspect who was also armed. Sources said the officer was shot in the head, chest and legs, reports the New York Post.

Mulkeen died after he was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center, an area trauma center.

Meanwhile, five officers, also at the scene, unloaded their weapons and killed the suspect. He was described as a 27-year-old man who was on probation until 2022 for a narcotics-related arrest last year, according to the NYPD.  

The suspect also has several prior arrests in ‘various places,’ including a burglary conviction in Rockland County, police said. His name was not released, although the New York Daily News identifies the suspect as Antonio Lavance Williams.

Police released the photo of a a .32-caliber revolver that was recovered from the ground where the deadly melee had taken place. 

When asked to confirm whether Mulkeen’s service weapon was turned against him, an NYPD spokesman said authorities were still investigating. 

The gun used to shoot Mulkeen must still must be sent to a lab to confirm it’s origin, the NYPD spokesman told DailyMail.com. 

A ‘brave’ Mulkeen was ‘doing the job we asked him to do – the job that New Yorkers needed him to do,’ when he ‘was shot and killed,’ said Monahan, in a statement taken while he spoke at the hospital alongside Mayor Bill de Blasio. 

“Tragedies like this are not only an affront to the men and women in blue, but to all the people our cops proudly serve,” the chief said at the hospital.

Mulkeen, who lived with his girlfriend in Yorktown Heights, was appointed to duty on January 9, 2013, and served out the 44th Precinct in the Bronx.

Investigators are the scene where Mulkeen was killed outside a Bronx public housing project are pictured above. Mulkeen is the second NYPD officer killed in the line of duty this year

Investigators are the scene where Mulkeen was killed outside a Bronx public housing project are pictured above. Mulkeen is the second NYPD officer killed in the line of duty this year

He had been working with the Bronx Borough Anti-Crime Unit patrolling the streets around the the Edenwald Houses at the time of the deadly shooting.

‘It’s very painful in every way,’ said de Blasio, referring to the heroic officer’s sacrifice. and calling for support for the cop’s family.

‘We have to be there for him. He was there for us,’ the mayor added. 

Mulkeen is the second NYPD officer killed in the line of duty this year. Detective Brian Simonsen was accidentally shot by fellow officers in February while confronting a robbery suspect.

Chief of Department Terence A. Monahan (pictured above) said a 'brave' Mulkeen was 'doing the job we asked him to do - the job that New Yorkers needed him to do,' when he 'was shot and killed'

Chief of Department Terence A. Monahan (pictured above) said a ‘brave’ Mulkeen was ‘doing the job we asked him to do – the job that New Yorkers needed him to do,’ when he ‘was shot and killed’

'It's very painful in every way,' said Mayor Bill de Blasio (above), referring to the Mulkeen's sacrifice. and calling for support for the cop's family. 'We have to be there for him. He was there for us,' the mayor added

‘It’s very painful in every way,’ said Mayor Bill de Blasio (above), referring to the Mulkeen’s sacrifice. and calling for support for the cop’s family. ‘We have to be there for him. He was there for us,’ the mayor added

‘We’ve been here too often. We know the directions to get here,’ Pat Lynch, the president of New York City’s Police Benevolent Association, said at the press conference. ‘It has to stop.’ 

‘Brian was a great cop dedicated to keeping this city safe. In fact, just last night he arrested a man in possession of a gun in the very same precinct,’ Monahan said.

The fatal shooting, according to the chief, was ‘a vivid example of the dangers New York City cops face every day. And, there’s never a doubt that our officers will continue to put it all on the line to keep people safe.’

‘Tragedies like this are not only an affront to the men and women in blue, but to all the people our cops proudly serve, Monahan added.

The chief thanked people who had already reached out to the department to express their condolences. ‘We ask everyone to please keep Officer Mulkeen’s loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.’

 

 

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk