(Seth Gottfried)
A Nassau County police officer was shot by a thief during an early morning burglary-gone-bad, authorities said today.
The gunman and a second suspect fled the home after blasting 32-year-old police officer Mohit Arora in the right hip just before 2 a.m., cops said. The pair were arrested a short time later following an all out manhunt.
Police were responding to a home on Campbell Street in New Hyde Park after neighbors reported hearing what sounded like men breaking in, cops said.
Officer Arora was the first person on scene and approached the house as the two burglars were still inside, police said.
That’s when the thieves attempted to bolt out the front door with guns blazing, hitting the six-year-veteran.
“He raised his gun and fired upon the officer, striking him in his hip,” said Nassau County Detective Michael Bitsko. “The officers then returned fire and a short foot pursuit occurred.”
“At that time, the subjects fired upon the officers and they were apprehended a short distance away,” he continued.
While the some of the officers gave chase, Arora was thrown in the back of a police cruiser by his fellow cops and rushed to North Shore LIJ where he is currently listed in stable condition.
Bitsko said a 9mm handgun was recovered from one of the men.
Authorities said the the burglary was no random crime but would not say why the crooks targeted the two story brick home.
“This was planned out–to commit this burglary at this house,” Bitsko said. “It was targeted.”
Police said that a man and a woman who were home at the time were uninjured during the break-in.