Robert Stridiron
An NYPD cop was shot in Brooklyn by a deranged man with a rifle — who opened fire on him moments after he entered his home — and then barricaded himself inside before taking his own life, police said.
Officer Hart Nguyen, of the 75th Precinct, was hit twice in the bulletproof vest and once in the arm while responding to a call of an emotionally disturbed person at a residence in 149 Ridgewood Ave. in Cypress Hills, the sources said.
He was rushed to Jamaica Hospital and was expected to survive.
“This young man was definitely saved by his vest,” Mayor de Blasio said at a press conference on Thursday night.
It was initially unclear if anyone else was inside the house while the suspect — identified as 29-year-old Andy Sookdeo — was holed up, but sources said it was the man’s mother who called the police on him.
“The mother called 911 because her son’s an EDP,” a source explained. “When [the officer] gets into the home, he comes out of the bedroom shooting.”
Police officials later revealed that the worried woman had told cops that Sookdeo was not violent — and unarmed — but acting erratically.
Worried that he would flee, Nguyen’s partner posted up at the back of the home while he went inside to see what was going on.
“As [Nguyen] approached a rear bedroom, the suspect fired several shots,” said Police Commissioner James O’Neill. “The officer did not return fire.”
Dozens of NYPD officers flooded the area following the shooting — along with state troopers, K9 units and helicopters.
It was not clear what kind of weapon Sookdeo used to shoot Nguyen, but authorities later recovered two guns at the scene. Sources said it appeared to be a rifle of some sort.
The man wound up fatally shooting himself before police could get to him, according to officials.
“ESU services made entry and discovered the suspect deceased with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound,” O’Neill said.
Nguyen, who lives in Brooklyn, has been on the force for a little over two years.
“He’s a brave young man,” O’Neill said, explaining that “he’s got a good spirit.”
“He will be fine,” the commissioner added. “He was up and talking to us.”
Additional reporting by CJ Sullivan