A few days before Christmas, police are hailing a “miracle” after two SWAT officers escaped injury when they were shot early Wednesday during a standoff in the Northeast.
Authorities said Nasuil Martinez, 20, fired at officers when he was cornered in a house on the 800 block of East Sanger Street around 4:30 a.m. Martinez was wanted for the Dec. 10 shooting of Officer Kevin Gorman, with a $10,000 reward out for his arrest.
According to police, Martinez fired one shot from a .45 caliber handgun that hit 21-year veteran, Sgt. Christopher Binns, in his helmet. Another hit Officer Francis Whelan, a 12-year veteran, in his Kevlar bulletproof vest. That led to a three-hour standoff that ended when Martinez apparently shot himself in the neck accidentally.
“Obviously it’s nothing short of a miracle that our two officers are here today,” said Deputy Police Commissioner Richard Ross. “Either one of these shots would’ve taken a life, without question.”
Hostage negotiators expected Martinez to surrender shortly before they heard a gunshot. When they entered the house, police said, he was bleeding profusely and indicated the gun went off accidentally. He was listed in critical condition last night.
