New York police officer shot, suspect dead after shootout in Jamaica, Queens

NEW YORK — New York City police killed a man in Queens Tuesday evening after shooting at officers — striking one in the leg — who were responding to reports of armed robberies in the area, authorities said.

The officer who was shot is expected to survive, officials said.

Joseph Kenny, chief of detectives for the New York Police Department, identified the suspect as Gary Worthy. He said Worthy, 57, was wanted in connection with two armed robberies of businesses in Queens.

A pair of officers tried to approach the man in the Jamaican neighborhood of Queens and told him to stop, but the man started running and fired one shot at an officer, hitting the officer in the thigh. The officer then returned fire, killing Worthy.

A 26-year-old woman was also hit in the leg during the shooting but is expected to survive, Kenny said.

Kenny said Worthy had been given “life parole” for firearm possession and was arrested less than a week ago for alleged possession of narcotics and resisting arrest, but was later released. He was also wanted for three other gun robberies earlier this year, Kenny said.

New York Mayor Eric Adams said the handling of Worthy’s previous charges marked a failure of the city’s criminal justice system. The Democratic mayor made similar comments earlier this week after a man who had also previously been criminally charged was arrested after a series of random stabbings in Manhattan left three people dead.

“We are grateful tonight, but we are also angry, we are angry because in two days we have witnessed a criminal justice system that is failing New Yorkers and the good people of this city,” Adams said.