2 cops, gunman injured during pursuit turned gunfight in Brooklyn: Police

Two police officers are recovering in the hospital after being shot in Brooklyn early Saturday morning during a gunfight with a suspect, who was shot several times after pointing a gun at cops and leading them on a vehicle pursuit.

On Feb. 20 at about 3:20 a.m. police officers heard a shot fired near the intersection of Quincy Street and Malcolm X Boulevard, according to authorities. As the police approached the suspect — later identified as 34-year-old Jamal Funes — he pointed a gun at them and fled in a vehicle.

The officers began to pursue Funes as they called in for assistance, according to police. Moments later, as Funes traveled the wrong way on the street he rammed into a responding marked patrol car at the corner of Lexington Avenue and Malcolm X Boulevard.

According to authorities, a total of about eight officers then confronted Funes and fired at him, striking him several times while he was still in his car.

During the shooting, two police officers — who were plainclothes anti-crime officers from the 81st Precinct — were struck, police said.

One of the officers was hit in his protective vest in the chest area but the bullet did not penetrate and he suffered blunt-force trauma, according to authorities. The second officer was struck once below the vest line and the bullet entered his right hip.

Both officers were being treated at Kings County Hospital and were alert and in stable condition.

According to the New York Daily News, the injured officers were identified as nine-year NYPD veteran William Reddin, 33, of Lynbrook and third-generation cop Andrew Yurkiw, 29, of Wantagh.

Officials also added that just as Yurkiw was saved by his bulletproof vest, 27 years ago his father, retired Police Officer Paul Yurkiw, was also saved by his vest when he was shot while on the job, the Daily News reported.

“This morning is a reminder of the important and dangerous and crucial work that our police officers do, and the way they put their lives on the line for us every single day, and that is why this city is kept safe, because these men and women step up for us,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a press conference on Saturday.

According to police sources, it was also possible that one or both of the officers were hit by friendly fire, after more than 30 shots were fired during the incident, the Daily News said.

Police recovered a .357 Magnum revolver from the front seat of Funes’ car with five spent shell casings, cops said.

Funes, who authorities believe is from New Jersey, is listed in critical condition at Brookdale Hospital.

According to CNN, investigators are looking into Funes’ ties with people who have been monitored by the Joint Terrorism Task Force. However, there is no evidence that Saturday’s incident was connected.

Prior to the gunfight with police, Funes — who has a history of 15 arrests — allegedly had shot at a uniformed MTA bus driver, mistaking him for a cop, who was stop inside his car at the corner of Quincy Street and Malcolm X Boulevard, the Daily New reported.

The investigation is ongoing.