In another bloody attack on New York’s Finest, two cops were shot by robbers in The Bronx on Monday night — and a massive manhunt was under way for at least one suspect early Tuesday.
Plainclothes officers Andrew Dossi and Aliro Pellarano had just finished their shift but came back on to respond to a grocery store robbery at 363 E. 180th St. when they came upon two suspects at 184th Street, authorities said.
One of them ducked into a Chinese restaurant on Tiebout Avenue at about 10:35 p.m. while the other stayed outside, according to NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton.
“As two of the officers approached the male on the street, the other suspect inside of the store came out and fired upon the officers,” Bratton said. “The officers returned fire.”
The suspects then fled on foot while exchanging gunfire with cops at 184th Street and Tiebout Avenue.
“We are currently investigating if the suspect who fired upon the officers was also involved in the prior robbery,” Bratton said.
Investigators have recovered the .44-caliber Ruger used in the attack on the cops.
Witnesses said they heard a series of gunshots near the location.
Pellarano, 38, was struck in the left arm and grazed in the chest, while Dossi, 30, was shot in the left arm and lower back, authorities said.
“I heard six shots,” said Stephen Melowski, 36. “I looked out and I saw the shot cops getting inside a car. Somebody was saying, ‘Oh my God, oh my God!’ ”
The suspects then carjacked a white Camaro and drove a short distance before crashing at 188th Street and Park Avenue. They then got out and started running.
A weapon was recovered at 189th Street and Park, a source said.
Both officers, from the 46th Precinct, were taken to St. Barnabas Hospital. Dossi was in surgery Tuesday morning. Their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.
Both officers are expected to survive their wounds.
The suspects are described as Hispanics between 25 and 30, who wore dark clothes Monday night.
The gunman inside the Chinese restaurant appeared to have a close-cropped full beard.
“Thank God these officers are doing well,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said from the hospital Tuesday morning. “These officers did something that was extraordinarily brave. They did it as part of their commitment. These officers had just come off their shift and upon hearing this call, went back out in search of these criminals. The work they do is so profoundly important in this instance where they went above and beyond the call to protect their fellow New Yorkers.”
PBA Bronx Trustee Joe Anthony said the officers had already ended their shift when they responded to the call.
“Instead of going home to their families, they heroically ran out to help the citizens of the Bronx who were in danger, putting their lives on the line,” Anthony said.
One possible suspect was apprehended at New York Presbyterian Hospital when he sought treatment for a gunshot wound. It was not clear how he was shot.
The NYPD was scouring the area to find at least one other suspect who fled after the shootout.
Sources said there might be a third suspect involved in the heist.
Cops confiscated a black Nissan Altima that was parked outside New York Presbyterian Hospital. The car was rented from an agency in Mount Kisco.
It was not clear how the Altima was connected with the suspects, but it may have been the vehicle used to take the wounded suspect to the hospital after the shooting, law enforcement sources said.
De Blasio arrived at St. Barnabas early Tuesday to console the families of the injured officers.
COP SHOT posted a $10,000 cash reward for information leading to the arrest of the gunman.
Mayor de Blasio, pleaded with the public to step up, tweeting: “It’s crucial that the people of this city aid in this investigation. If you have information, please call 1-800-577-TIPS right away.”
The shooting comes just 16 days after Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were shot execution-style while sitting in their squad car in Brooklyn.
Liu and Ramos were gunned down by a deranged man who said he was out for revenge after the grand jury decision not to indict an NYPD officer in the chokehold death of Eric Garner.
Additional reporting by Kenneth Garger, Frank Rosario and Shawn Cohen