The NYPD is investigating a police-involved car chase and shooting that took place in Cypress Hills early Wednesday morning.
At 4:13 am on Nov. 3, officers from the 75th Precinct saw a car, a Honda CRV, driving the wrong way on Wyona Street at Jamaica Avenue. The driver rammed the car into the police car, leading an officer to fire multiple rounds at the car.
In the process, the cop car appears to have hit a pole while in pursuit of the car. The driver and a passenger of the car fled the scene on foot in an unknown direction.
Officers are canvassing the area for the suspects in the ongoing investigation.
Javiel DeJesus, a Wyona St resident who witnessed the incident, said he was trying to park his car when he saw the speeding SUV driver whiz by, as they and the police cruiser sped around the block before the CR-V driver lost control and collided with the cop car within the intersection of Jamaica and Wyona. That sent the squad car into the pole.
“Boom, there was an accident,” DeJesus said. “I tried to get out of the car and see if I could help, because I don’t know what’s there. And then when I hear the gunshot, I went back to my car. Then I saw the cop with the gun in his hands looking for the guy.”
DeJesus said he heard someone scream “what the f**k,” followed by about five gunshots
.It’s not the first time his block has seen senseless violence: last summer, two teenagers were shot dead while playing basketball at the park across the street from his house, George Walker Jr. Park.
Additional reporting by Lloyd Mitchell.