The father of slain NYPD Officer Brian Mulkeen called him “remarkable” on Sunday after he died wrestling an armed suspect in The Bronx.
“He was a remarkable human being. Everybody loved him,” his father Brian Mulkeen — the hero cop’s namesake — told the Post.
The 33-year-old officer was on patrol just after midnight at the Edenwald Houses in The Bronx when he confronted the suspect and a struggle ensued, police said.
Mulkeen, a six-year veteran of the force, was struck by gunfire as he and the suspect wrestled on the ground, police sources said. Police said they were awaiting tests to determine who fired the shots.
“I was sleeping and heard a bunch of shots which at first I thought were fireworks,” said neighbor Kmossi Sanda, who lives on the second floor of the building. “I looked and heard people yelling and running and a bunch of cops came running out of the precinct.”
Police said the suspect, whom police sources identified as ex-con Antonio Lavance Williams, was fatally shot by officers at the scene.
Mulkeen was brought with gunshot injuries to his head, chest and leg to Jacobi Hospital, officials said. Doctors attempted to save his life to no avail.
The fallen officer served the anti-crime unit in 47th Precinct and lived in Yorktown Heights with his cop girlfriend.
He graduated in 2008 from Fordham University where he competed in track and field, the university said.
“The Fordham Track & Field program is sadden [sic] to hear that Bronx police officer and former Fordham track & field performer Brian Mulkeen (GSB ’08) passed away early Sunday morning, after being shot in the line of duty,” the team said in a statement.
“Our deepest condolences go out to Brian’s family, his fellow officers in the 47th Precinct, and his former teammates.”