A 22-year-old man has been arrested for shooting dead a rookie NYPD officer in Queens following a bus dispute
Queens, Jamaica (WABC) — Police said they had arrested a 22-year-old man in connection with the shooting death of a rookie NYPD officer in Queens.
Members of the U.S. Marshalls found Devin Spraggins at his home in the Bronx around 8 p.m. Thursday, officials said. They also found a gun in the home, but it is not yet known if it was used in the incident.
Officer Brett Boller, 22, was shot in the hip Wednesday while attending an altercation on a bus, officials said.
He underwent surgery at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and has a long road to recovery.
He is expected to be out of the hospital for many days, and is expected to make a full recovery, though probably not until next week.
The gunshot shattered one of the bones that connect her hip to her leg, damaging her femoral artery, the main blood vessel to her leg. He is listed in stable condition but is currently facing months of rehab for his right leg.
The shooting sparked a desperate race to the hospital. Cell phone video circulating within the department shows the injured officer lying on his back on the pavement while another officer ties a tourniquet to his leg.
At least five police officers then loaded him into a patrol car, followed by multiple police cars. The civilian in the video retrieved what appeared to be an officer’s hat and gave it to another officer.
Another video showed a police van driving backwards down 161st Street. At one point it was blocked by a double parked vehicle and someone jumped behind the steering wheel of the car, threw it back and quickly moved it out of the way with the driver’s side door still open.
The shooter is on the run and a search is underway. Police have increased the reward for his arrest to a maximum of $20,000. This includes up to $3,500 to be paid by CrimeStoppers upon arrest and prosecution, up to $6,500 by the NYPD upon arrest and conviction, and up to $6,500 by the Cop Shot Foundation upon arrest and conviction of those responsible. up to $10,000 for
A new close-up photo of the suspect’s face also aids in the effort. Another photo shows a distinctive tattoo that reads “Jocelyn.”
The shooting occurred around 3:30 pm Wednesday when the driver of an MTA bus on Jamaica Avenue alerted two police officers, telling them the man was arguing with another passenger over a seat.
When the police approached the bus, the man tried to get off the bus and began to struggle. The man pushed the police aside and fled to 161st Street.
Boller was able to catch up with the suspect, who turned and fired one shot, hitting the officer in the hip, according to Detective Commissioner James Esig.
His partner then fired two shots back at the suspect, who continued to flee into a nearby parking lot.
Boller is from Hauppauge, graduated in December, and his father is a detective in Brooklyn.
Graduated from Apogue High School as a star player in 2018.
“He was an athlete in three sports and captained many teams,” said Dr. Don Murphy of Happaugue School District. “He’s a young man. So learning is devastating for our community.”
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https://abc7ny.com/officer-shot-nypd-crime-cop/13097904/ A 22-year-old man has been arrested for shooting dead a rookie NYPD officer in Queens following a bus dispute
