Sunday, November 15, 2009

Police Kill Man in Brooklyn After Bar Brawl

An undercover police officer responding to a report of a brawl at a Brooklyn bar early Sunday fatally shot a 43-year security guard who was firing into the crowd. A 19-year-old man with a gun was also wounded by the police, according to a police official.

The fight was raging when the officers arrived at the Norwood Palace Sports Bar at 3138 Fulton Street in Cypress Hills, and bar stools were being smashed over patrons’ heads.

As the officers tried to enter the bar, they saw the 19-year-old man standing in a side doorway holding a pistol. He was shot three times, the police official said. The man, who was not immediately identified, was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he was said to be in stable condition.

The 43-year old man, who had apparently been hired as a security guard for a party at the bar, was shooting into the crowd, according to the police official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing.

One of the officers fired at the man, Kevin White, fatally wounding him. Mr. White was taken to Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Mr. White had been arrested 28 times, including five for firearms-related offenses, the police official said. The disposition of those cases was not immediately know.

The official added that several witnesses later told detectives that the two officers had identified themselves before opening fire.

The official said that another security guard in the club later found a bullet lodged in the back of his bulletproof vest. The slug vest was consistent with the .25 caliber weapons used by the 19 year old suspect.

Three pistols were found at the scene, investigators said.

The police did not identify the officers involved in the shooting. The official said that one of them is 31 and has been with the Police Department for five years. The other officer, who is 28, has been on the force four years.

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