NYPD hunts suspect who shot at police in Queens
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New York City police are on the hunt for a suspect wanted in connection to a police-involved shootout that damaged an NYPD vehicle Wednesday evening.
Two officers in a marked patrol vehicle encountered two men in Queens at the intersection of Beach Channel Drive and Dix Avenue around 5:40 p.m., an NYPD spokesman told Fox News.
NYC POLICE UNION PRESIDENT DEFENDS OFFICERS: THE MEDIA IS PORTRAYING US AS THE ENEMY
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}One of them was allegedly shooting at the other, who ran toward police. As police were rolling up, the suspect fired in their direction.
Both officers exited their vehicle and one returned fire, the spokesman said.
The suspect fled the scene and no one is believed to have been shot, he said, but the officers sustained minor injuries -- one had tinnitus and the other received a laceration to the finger.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The suspect remained at large Wednesday evening.
NY STATE POLICE UNION BOSS SAYS OFFICERS SHOULDN'T BE TREATED 'LIKE ANIMALS AND THUGS'
Unrest has racked New York and other cities as looters and rioters have taken advantage of protests following the death of George Floyd, who died in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25. At least 292 NYPD officers had been injured during the protests as of Saturday -- and other attacks on police have not resulted in injuries.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The NYPD on Wednesday released a video of a suspect it said allegedly threw an "incendiary device" at another police vehicle in the Bronx on June 1.
And the Queens shootout came a day after New York Police Benevolent Association President Mike O'Meara received national attention after he accused the media and politicians of “vilifying” cops amid left-wing calls for cities to “defund” or “dismantle” their police departments.
“We are portrayed in the press and everywhere else as the enemy, and we want people to know that we take our jobs seriously, we’re professional, and the vast, vast majority of the time we act appropriately and honorably,” he said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
Calls to defund or dismantle police forces around the country vary from demanding major changes to how police forces are organized to reallocating some of the funds spent on police budgets.
Critics say such acts would lead to spikes in crime.