Bronx Officer Shot While Stopping Armed Robbery Leaves Hospital
Bronx police officer Juan Pichardo was released from Jacobi Medical Center Saturday, two days after being shot during an armed robbery attempt.
According to the New York Post, the 34-year-old, who left the the hospital in a wheelchair, was greeted by bagpipes and hundreds of cheering friends and fellow law enforcement employees.
As we reported Friday, the nine-year veteran was shot in the leg Thursday evening when a gunman and his accomplice pretended to be interested in purchasing a vehicle at the used car dealership owned by Pichardo’s family on Boston Road. The men then pulled guns and demanded cash, and tied zip ties around Pichardo’s wrists. He managed to break free and jumped one of the robbers before being shot in the right thigh.
Three of the four suspects in the shooting — 22-year-olds Jeffrey Okine and Tyquez Harrell, and 23-year-old Marquis Daniels — were arraigned Friday on charges of assault, robbery, and attempted murder. The fourth suspect, 25-year-old Rayshaun Jones, was awaiting arraignment on the same charges, according to the Post.
Lt. Neftali Betances of the 41st Precinct said Pichardo was “lucky” to survive the armed robbery and to be released from the hospital so quickly.
“The last thing we want is to lose an officer,” Betances said. “He is recovering well. The family and him are in high spirits.”
Pichardo’s nephew, Brian Tolentino, told DNA Info, “He’s in perfect condition, he’s even walking. Of course, we’re all glad to have him back.”
Two other police officers, Michael Levay and Lukasz Kozicki, were shot in a separate incident an hour later in Brooklyn. They were both released from Lutheran Medical Center Friday.
