A Long Island cop was shot in the back by a robbery suspect early this morning – but his bulletproof vest stopped the potentially fatal slug, police said.
The unidentified Hempstead Village Police officer was also shot in the shoulder but the wound was non-life-threatening, authorities said.
The incident began at 3:20 a.m. in Hempstead, when three officers responded to calls of at least two armed men robbing people on the street.
Officers chased a suspect, who spun around near the intersection of Washington Ave. and Cooper St. and fired multiple shots, striking the cop twice.
At least one of the cops returned fire, striking the gunman below the waist.
The wounded cop was rushed to a local hospital, where the wounds were described as non-life-threatening. The gunman was also taken to a different hospital, although officials did not specify the location.
There was no immediate word on his condition.
Police took at least one other suspect into custody and were questioning him. Detectives and crime scene investigators were at the scene, photographing spent shell casings and other evidence.