On-duty NYPD police officer commits suicide after arguing with his girlfriend on the phone: sources

On-duty NYPD police officer commits suicide after arguing with his girlfriend on the phone: sources
Cop was responding with his partner to a call about a series of car break-ins when he ended his life

By Kerry Burke AND Sarah Armaghan / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Friday, January 20 2012, 1:14 AM




An on-duty New York City police officer committed suicide Thursday night by shooting himself in the face on a Queens street after arguing with his girlfriend on the phone, police sources said.

Neighbors saw the unnamed officer lying in the street after hearing a single shot in front of 85-22 211th St. in Hollis Hills around 10:40 p.m.

The officer 28, was taken to Long Island Jewish Medical Center where he died, according to police.

The cop was responding with his partner to a call about a series of car break-ins at the scene when the officer ended his life, a source said.

“He got out of his [patrol] car and he’s on the phone with somebody,” a police source said. “He puts the gun in his mouth and fires.”

“He was lying [on the street] bleeding,” neighbor Gerry Namti, 44, said of the uniformed cop.

“He was on his stomach,” said another neighbor who declined to be named. “They put him in the back of a [police] car because there wasn’t an ambulance.”

“They sped off and there was another [police car] following it,” she said.”

Namti said the cop’s partner was frantically calling for help over his police radio.

“I heard one shot - it was really loud,” the woman resident said. “Within the next few minutes, all I saw was flashing lights and police cars came speeding through.”




The block was cordoned off while dozens of investigators scoured the scene, neighbors said.

“It’s such a beautiful block,” one resident said. “It’s probably the prettiest block in Hollis Hills. This is the first time in 20 years I’ve ever seen something like this happen. It’s awful.”

Police said they are still investigating the incident.