A man police say shot and injured two NYPD sergeants in Lower Manhattan this week has been arraigned on attempted murder charges, among others, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office said.


What You Need To Know

  • A man police say shot and injured two NYPD sergeants in Lower Manhattan this week has been arraigned on attempted murder charges, among others, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office said

  • Police said the 22-year-old suspect shot the two sergeants after they responded to a call reporting an armed robbery inside a Mahjong parlor on the Lower East Side

  • Mayor Eric Adams said both sergeants are expected to make full recoveries. One of the sergeants was released from the hospital Thursday night

Joshua Dorsett, 22, of Manhattan, faces two counts of first-degree attempted murder, two counts of first-degree assault, four counts of second-degree assault, one count of aggravated assault upon a police officers, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and five counts of first-degree robbery in connection with the Thursday Lower East Side shooting, the DA’s office said Friday.

Sgts. Carl Johnson and Christopher Leap were taken to Bellevue Hospital after a single bullet struck both of them in the leg, police said. Leap was released the same night, and Johnson was released Saturday afternoon.

Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday said both are expected to make full recoveries.

Police said Dorsett opened fire at the two sergeants after they responded to a call reporting an armed robbery inside a mahjong parlor at Canal and Eldridge streets Thursday afternoon.

Surveillance footage showed Dorsett pointing a gun at several women on the second floor of the parlor before stealing their purses, according to police.

When the two sergeants tried to arrest Dorsett as he fled up Eldridge Street, a struggle ensued, and Dorsett fired the shot that struck Johnson in the upper thigh and grazed Leap's upper thigh as well, officials said.

Dorsett has three prior arrests, with the most recent being in 2022 for criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was on probation at the time of the shooting, police said. A semiautomatic pistol was recovered at the scene.

Dorsett's next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 7.