A New York City police officer who was shot while sitting in her patrol car has died in what authorities are calling a “clear assassination.”
Officer Miosotis Familia, 48, died at a hospital early Wednesday.
Familia, a 12-year veteran of the force, was shot as she sat in a police vehicle with her partner in the city’s Bronx area at 12:30 a.m. ET, the New York Police Department said. The suspect fired through the vehicle’s window, hitting Familia in the head, the department said in a statement.
“It is clear that this was an unprovoked direct attack on police officers who were assigned to keep the people of this city safe,” Police Commissioner James O’Neill said
After the attack, her partner radioed for help. Officers chased the assailant on foot for a block before he drew a revolver and they shot and killed him, the department said.
The suspect has been identified as 34-year-old Alexander Bonds.
A bystander was also shot and was in stable condition, according to the department.
Ryan says police are unaware of any connection between Bonds and Familia.
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“Just a few hours ago the city was celebrating our Independence Day,” said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. “And then just as that was ending tragedy struck. It is such a painful reality, the end of a very good female officer, attacked out of nowhere.”
With files from Reuters and the Associated Press