Summary:

NYPD officer and a bystander were shot in Queens during a series of armed robberies.
The suspect, Gary Worthy (57), was killed in a shootout with police.
Worthy had a lengthy criminal record and was out on parole at the time of the shooting.
Officer Wong and the bystander are expected to recover.
Mayor Adams condemned Worthy's actions.

NYPD Officer and Bystander Shot in Queens During Robbery Spree

A NYPD officer and a bystander were shot in Queens, New York, during a series of armed robberies. The suspect, identified as 57-year-old Gary Worthy, was killed in a shootout with police.

The Incident

The incident began around 5:30 p.m. with a robbery at a deli. The suspect, armed with a black revolver, fired a shot before fleeing. Police were later alerted to a second robbery at a smoke shop. Around 6:30 p.m., officers confronted Worthy, who opened fire, hitting Officer Rich Wong. Wong returned fire, fatally wounding the suspect. A 26-year-old bystander was also struck by gunfire during the incident.

The Suspect

Worthy had a lengthy criminal record with 17 prior arrests for crimes including murder, robbery, and narcotics possession. He was out on parole at the time of the shooting, having been released just six days prior after an arrest for narcotics possession and resisting arrest. Police say Worthy was also a suspect in three other armed robberies with shots fired that occurred earlier in November and on Halloween.

Aftermath

Officer Wong, a seven-year veteran of the NYPD, is expected to make a full recovery. The bystander is also expected to recover. Mayor Eric Adams condemned Worthy's actions, calling him a "reckless perpetrator who allegedly showed a complete disregard for human life."