Hero Cop Promoted To Detective Following Bronx Shootout
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Call it a hero's reward.
Ivan Marcano got a bedside visit from Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly early Friday. They promoted him to detective, and presented him with the gold shield that accompanies that rank.
"He was indeed surprised, he was happy," Kelly said. "He was kind of shocked when we walked in."
1010 WINS' Stan Brooks reports
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Marcano left Bronx Lebanon hospital later Friday. Waving from his wheelchair, he was greeted by bagpipe players and hundreds of applauding police officers. He waved again and said "Thank you" before being whisked off in a police car.
Police said Jason Leiva, 20, and another suspect turned themselves in this morning for questioning in the robbery and shooting. A $22,000 reward had been offered for information leading to the arrest of those wanted in connection with the attempted murder of Marcano.
Marcano was off-duty when his girlfriend noticed a robbery taking place in Morris Heights Wednesday night. Marcano told his girlfriend to call 911 as he got out of their car with his gun and shield and identified himself to the suspects as a cop, police said.
Marcano, who was not wearing a bulletproof vest, was shot in the chest as he tried to help Mario Arbaca, who was being beaten.
"He yelled, but I couldn't hear it what it was. My head was still banging from the hit. All of sudden, this kid turned around and boom shot him," Arbaca said.
That's when one of the suspects fired, striking Marcano in the chest, Kelly said.
The two suspects then took off in a white Ford Mustang driven by a third suspect, police said. Marcano got back into his car and with his girlfriend at the wheel, followed them.
What happened next was caught on video.
Watch the surveillance video:
The video shows the white car Marcano was driving in pull up behind another white car that the robbery suspects were in. The suspects' car can then be seen lurching forward into a livery cab and another parked car. The white Mustang then careened onto the sidewalk before coming to a stop, police said.
After the suspects' car came to a stop, Marcano is seen in the surveillance video getting out of his car and, with one hand applying pressure to his own wound, using the other hand to shoot and kill one of the suspects, police said.
WEB EXTRA: View Photo Gallery Of Shooting In The Bronx
"His presence of mind, his focus, he did everything we could've asked for and more," Kelly said. "It was just an outstanding act by our officer."
"So imagine...having the wherewithal to take a bullet, pursue a suspect, maintain your firearm, protect the lives of others... that is a hero right down to the marrow of his bones," Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch said.
Marcano is seen telling a bystander to get down and using a parked car as cover as he fired at the suspects.
"Police Officer Marcano was protecting our city and putting his life on the line, even when he was off-duty," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Wednesday.
As he followed one of the suspects onto Burnside Avenue, Marcano stumbled upon an ambulance that was parked on Burnside near Harrison. He is seen in the video apparently talking to a medic in the front of the ambulance before climbing in and getting taken to the hospital.
The suspect fatally shot by Marcano has been identified by police as Prince James, 18, of the Bronx.
A .380 caliber, semi-automatic handgun was recovered at the scene, Kelly said.
"This is another case of guns in the wrong hands ending in violence," Bloomberg said. "He is the 12th NYPD police officer who has been shot this year and the second police officer we've seen shot this week."
The Bronx incident follows Tuesday's fatal shooting of Officer Arthur Lopez of the Nassau County Police Department on the Cross Island Parkway.
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