By Greg Friese
NEW YORK – An off-duty corrections officer is being hailed as a “hero” for shooting and wounding a man who drew and aimed a firearm at a crowd gathered in Queens to celebrate Independence Day.
After the assailant, 23, aimed a gun at the crowd, CO David Donegan took out his own gun and fired at the man, according to News 12.
Donegan was shot in the leg and the assailant was shot in the torso by the CO. Police are also searching for a second suspect.
“I visited the officer in the hospital, he’s a hero,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said. “Taking proper action while off-duty is one of the most difficult things to do, and we are happy that he’s not experiencing any life-threatening injuries.”
Chief of Patrol Jeffrey Maddrey expects Donegan, who is now hospitalized, to recover from his injuries.
“We are grateful that he took action, followed his trained and engaged these two individuals who were providing gun violence in our city,” said Corrections Commissioner Louis Molina during an NYPD news conference.
According to Adams, the 23-year-old is known to police for prior firearms crimes and was out of prison waiting to serve his time for a gun that he had in a robbery.
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