NYC Police Shoot Hammer-Wielding Suspect in Busy Manhattan Area After He Attacks Cop

Police in New York City shot a man who attacked them with a hammer as they tried to approach him Wednesday morning.

The NYPD released surveillance video of the horrific act hours later.

05-13-15 MTS Hammer Suspectby Gothamist

Police said a man was shot by police in Midtown after going after them with a hammer. The attacker's injuries at first appeared to be serious.

.@NYCScanner says a man has been shot by police in Midtown Manhattan. He's in serious condition. Pics appear to show black male.

— Jonathon M. Seidl (@jonseidl) May 13, 2015

WCBS reports witnesses say man was shot by police in Midtown NYC after attacking cop with hammer: https://t.co/NmiRCDSc6j

— Jonathon M. Seidl (@jonseidl) May 13, 2015

Another pic (via @intsunny) showing man involved in alleged police shooting: pic.twitter.com/3JdBoRxOth

— Jonathon M. Seidl (@jonseidl) May 13, 2015

Alleged picture of man involved in NYC shooting (via @Sunnystease): pic.twitter.com/wtfYhpQuTo

— Jonathon M. Seidl (@jonseidl) May 13, 2015

Police said they recognized the man as a suspect who has allegedly been involved in other vicious hammer attacks throughout Manhattan this week.

#BREAKING: Suspect shot by #NYPD in Midtown is same man wanted for several hammer attacks in Manhattan this week. pic.twitter.com/9eVkaZPipC

— ABC7NY NewsDesk (@ABC7NYNewsDesk) May 13, 2015

New York City police Commissioner Bill Bratton confirmed the details at a news conference, pointing out the weapon that lay directly behind him in the street. Bratton said the suspect tried to assault the female officer with the claw end of the hammer.

Crime scene investigators search 8 & 37. Hammer used to attack NYPD officer on ground by pink mark. PC briefing soon pic.twitter.com/kKlNgNhiHV

— Marc Santia (@MarcSantia4NY) May 13, 2015

“The female police officer then backed up into the intersection, fleeing the assault. She fell down. Her partner officer shot the suspect twice," Bratton said.

An NYPD spokeswoman told TheBlaze that both officers were taken to a hospital. Their injuries are not life-threatening.

The suspect was also taken to a hospital in critical, but stable, condition.

A police spokeswoman said the suspect is believed to be the same person who used a hammer to attack four other people around New York City Monday. Two of those attacks occurred in Union Square Park and Madison Square Park.

Police said the suspect has a criminal history and mental health issues.

The suspect's identity has not been revealed but Bratton said the two officers knew the identity of the man believed to be responsible for Monday's attacks when they initially approached the suspect Wednesday morning.

More here:

(H/T: WCBS-TV

–

Follow Jon Street (@JonStreet) on Twitter