A horrifying family dispute in the Bronx resulted in the tragic deaths of an off-duty NYPD officer and his father on Wednesday. The officer, aged 26, was shot in the head by his own father, who then turned the gun on himself. Although the motive behind the deadly shooting remains unclear, authorities suspect that the father may have been suffering from mental illness.
According to the NYPD, the off-duty officer was asleep at his father’s apartment on Fteley Avenue when the older man shot him around 12:45 p.m. The father then proceeded to take his own life in another room of the residence. The grisly scene was discovered by a friend of the officer, who had gone to check on him after he failed to show up for an event. The officer’s name, as well as his father’s, has not been released to the public.
During the incident, a pregnant woman who was inside the apartment with a relative of hers was also hospitalized due to emotional distress. The exact connection between the woman and the officer or his father remains unclear. The NYPD spokesman stated that she was taken to the hospital for her well-being.
Authorities suspect that the father may have been suffering from mental illness, which could have played a role in the tragic events. The investigation is ongoing, and further details about the father’s mental state are yet to be revealed. The NYPD officer had joined the force in 2018 and was assigned to the Bronx narcotics division.
The Soundview community is reeling from the shocking incident that unfolded within their neighborhood. Family members, described as “hysterical,” witnessed the mortally wounded officer losing a significant amount of blood. The tragic loss of two lives has left friends, colleagues, and neighbors devastated.