A man suspected of shooting two police officers in the Bronx within 12 hours is in police custody, according to authorities.
Sources tell NY1 his name is Robert Williams, and that his alleged accomplice is a former NYPD employee.
Both injured officers are expected to make full recoveries, police say. One of them was released from the Lincoln Hospital this afternoon.
Police say the officer was shot in the face while sitting in his police van with his partner in the Longwood section of the Bronx late Saturday night.
Investigators say the suspect walked up to their van and started talking to the cops, then started firing shots into the van.
Police believe the same man opened fire at the 41st Precinct stationhouse Sunday morning around 8 a.m., injuring a second officer.
Police Commissioner Dermot Shea says this suspect was out on parole for a violent crime.
"He was paroled in 2017 for an incident in which an individual in the Bronx was shot, a subsequent carjacking of a female, and then a crash of a car where he engaged in a gunfight with members of the New York City Police Department,” Shea said. "Anyone who spews hatred at our officers is aiding and abetting this kind of atmosphere, it's not acceptable."
Police say they're now working to see if the handgun recovered from the 41st Precinct was the same one used in last night's shooting.
Reactions are pouring in from state and local leaders following these two officer shootings.
Mayor de Blasio responded to this morning's shooting, calling it a “vicious assassination attempt.”
Governor Cuomo tweeted that he is horrified by the attacks, saying they are heinous and those responsible will be brought to justice.
In addition, President Trump tweeted "because of weak leadership at Governor and Mayor ... and lack of support, our wonderful NYC police are under assault."
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams also spoke out, saying that these shootings were attempts to assasinate the symbol of public safety in the city.