Suspect Shot, Killed Following Armed Robbery At East Harlem Pharmacy
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- One suspect was killed Thursday morning during a shooting at an East Harlem pharmacy, police said. Surveillance video released by police later in the evening showed the chaotic scene as it unfolded.
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The incident took place at the RX Center Pharmacy on First Avenue and 119th Street. At least two other people suffered minor injuries. Two armed men went into the pharmacy at around 11 a.m. and demanded Oxycontin, Percocet and cash, police said.
Two workers and six customers were held hostage inside the pharmacy, including a woman and her baby.
Two female police officers were able to engage the suspects almost immediately after a pharmacy worker hit the silent alarm, setting the scene in motion. The suspect armed with what police said was a .32-caliber handgun fired at the responding officers. One officer did fire her weapon in response, police said.
Members of the Housing Bureau's Viper Team were monitoring the police radio when they heard the 911 call. The team pinpointed the location and captured the response to the robbery on video.
Both suspects continued to flee the scene and the armed suspect was confronted by a retired NYPD lieutenant. That retired lieutenant fired at the armed suspect -- identified by police as 23-year-old Rudolph Wyatt -- who was pronounced dead at the scene.
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During the confrontation, the second suspect, who had been ordered to the ground, took advantage, got up and ran. Police were still looking for him Thursday night. Most people in the neighborhood, though, said they were glad no customer or employee got hurt.
In a separate surveillance video obtained by CBS 2, the retired NYPD lieutenant is seen coming out of his car and confronting the suspect with the gun. The second suspect is also seen fleeing the scene.
Family members came running and screaming to the crime scene in tears. Some even challenged police, but were held back.
There have been several drugstore robberies in the area, including one Wednesday 10 blocks south on East 109th Street. A pharmacy there was robbed of $50,000 in drugs, WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reported.
Surveillance Video:
Are you concerned by the continuing trend of pharmacy robberies? What more can be done to keep them secure? Sound off in our comments section below.
