A crazed gunman fleeing a traffic stop on Staten Island opened fire on a police cruiser, brazenly shooting through his own windshield and hitting the car, cops and sources said.
The two officers were not struck by the fleeing fiend’s bullet, but they were taken to a nearby hospital for possible injuries related to shattered glass, according to the NYPD.
The incident began at around 7:30 p.m. when officers stopped the suspect’s Nissan SUV for a traffic violation near 290 Port Richmond Ave. During the encounter, the suspect, 31, sped away in an attempt to evade cops.
But he soon encountered another marked NYPD vehicle driving in the opposite direction on Port Richmond Avenue, police said.
The gunman smashed his Nissan into the police car and then opened fire on the vehicle, striking it — but missing the officers inside.
The cops did not return fire, according to the NYPD.
Police said the second NYPD vehicle was not part of a pursuit – the gunman happened upon them soon after he sped away.
The suspect, who is on parole for an assault in Manhattan, was arrested and police recovered two guns from inside the Nissan, law enforcement sources said.
He was taken to a nearby hospital, but was not seriously injured, law enforcement sources added.
Police withheld the suspect’s name Sunday night pending charges.
