Cop sleeping in his car between shifts takes random bullet to the head

A police officer is lucky to be alive after he was shot in the head while snoozing in his car between shifts.

The officer, named Keith, was shot in the parking lot of a precinct house in East Harlem, New York, on Saturday about 6.15am local time. He was sleeping in his car because the beds were full.

Commissioner Keechant Sewell told reporters the officer was awakened by the sound of glass shattering in his car and felt pain in the left side of his head.

The officer left the vehicle and was aided by a sergeant who saw blood coming from his head before an ambulance took him to the hospital, Comm Sewell said.

She added it is not known if it was a targeted shooting and it’s believed the gunshot was fired from “a significant distance”. Other officers in the area did not hear it.

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The officer suffered a fractured skull. The police commissioner said everyone is “lucky, fortunate and grateful” the officer is OK.

New York Mayor Eric Adams said: “we are truly happy, but angry”.

The mayor said he visited the officer in hospital and doctors “did an amazing job” in treating his injuries.

A US$10,000 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest.

Authorities said the bullet seemed to have been deflected by the rear passenger window it appeared to go through, or perhaps by the officer’s skull.

with The Associated Press

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