STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Doctors say it could take up to a year for Police Officer Vanesa Medina to recover from being shot in the hand Tuesday while attempting to arrest a domestic-violence suspect in Stapleton.
Recognizing the hard road ahead that could include a second surgery and physical therapy, more than 100 NYPD officers, a team of bagpipers and doctors gave her a warm and gregarious send-off Wednesday as she was escorted out of Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton.
THE BULLET WOUND
It just so happened that Richmond University reconstructive surgeon Biagio Pacifico was on site Tuesday morning when Medina was rushed into the emergency room with a bullet wound to her left hand.
“I had a clinic here in the morning anyway ... we got her up to the operating room very quickly,” said Pacifico in an interview outside the hospital Wednesday.
Still, only about 30% of patients who have suffered similar injuries have come out with full function in their hand, he said.
The bullet that struck Medina in the midst of a chaotic series of events exited through her palm, and doctors were able to remove about 95% of the bullet and bone fragments during the surgery.
Pacifico said the officer was concerned about losing fingers, which will not be the case.
Among the top-brass honoring Medina was NYPD Assistant Chief Kenneth Corey, Staten Island’s borough commander, who thanked the doctors, nurses and medical staff at Richmond University for the “tremendous care they gave to our officer yesterday.”
GRATEFUL TO BE ALIVE
After speaking with Medina post-surgery, Corey said the officer is happy to be alive.
“She had a rough day yesterday and she underwent a couple hours of surgery, but her spirits are high, she’s surrounded by family and friends, and she’s obviously very grateful to be going home," he said.
IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY
In regard to the incident itself, amidst what has been a chilly climate between civilians and officers on the North Shore in the wake of the latest developments in the Eric Garner case and “water bucket” incidents across the city, Corey said the image released by the NYPD of 39-year-old Gregory Edwards pointing a gun at police officers speaks for itself.
“They go to arrest a guy who’s wanted for assaulting his domestic partner and it turned violent very quickly ... and a gun comes out and shots are fired,” said Corey.
Police Commissioner James O’Neill said the incident began when Medina and her partner responded to a report of a past domestic assault and met the victim on Park Hill Lane at around 8:19 a.m. Tuesday.
The relationship between Edwards and the domestic-violence victim is unclear, but police spotted him during a canvas with the victim.
After dropping the victim off at a safe distance and calling two additional officers for backup, the four cops approached the suspect near the intersection of Prince Street and Mickaradan Court, police said. O’Neill said the suspect immediately became combative.
He said officers deployed a taser, which prompted Edwards to draw his firearm. O’Neill said the taser struck Edwards and he fired twice. Officers then fired three times. Medina was struck in the hand, and Edwards was killed.
The Legal Aid Society released a statement Wednesday about Edwards, a former Legal Aid client, saying the NYPD should release all un-redacted body-worn-camera footage along with the names of the officers involved in the shooting, so his family has a full account of the incident.
“Our hearts ache for Mr. Edwards’ family and his community who suffer these tragedies regularly and more than any community should endure," said Christopher Pisciotta, attorney-in-charge of the Staten Island Trial Office. “City Hall and the NYPD must work towards ways to deescalate these situations that too often end in gunfire and loss of life.”