The suspect arrested and charged with attempted murder of a police officer spent five years in jail.
According to state corrections records, 35-year-old Demetrius Blackwell was convicted in 2001 on an attempted murder charge.
NYPD: Saturday, at approximately 6:15 p.m., one of our police officers was shot while operating an unmarked police car with his partner in the Queens Village section of South Queens. Police Officer Brian Moore and Erik Jansen – both assigned to the 1-0-5 Precinct anti-crime team – wearing plain clothes and inside an unmarked police vehicle, conducting patrol in the vicinity of 212th Street and 104th Avenue.
Officer Brian Moore was seated in the driver’s seat and Officer Jansen was in the passenger’s seat when they observed a male – male, black, in his 30s, walking and adjusting an object in his waistband. The officers continued to observe the suspect walking southbound on 212th Street as he turned and continues southbound on 104th Road. Officer Moore positioned the vehicle behind the suspect and inquired about the suspect’s actions. The male immediately removed a firearm from his waistband and turned in the direction of the officers and deliberately fired several times into the vehicle, striking Officer Moore in the head. Both officers were still seated in the vehicle and did not have an opportunity to get out or return fire.
Please understand that this is all preliminary. This event only occurred several hours ago. So, it is preliminary. The male is identified as Demetrius Blackwell, 35 years old – fled to an alley, where he went on to 104th Road. Realizing that Officer Moore was struck in the head and seriously injured, Officer Jansen immediately radioed for assistance. A responding radio car removed Officer Moore to Jamaica Hospital, while officers on the scene began searching for the suspect. Officers conducted a canvass of the area and located several witnesses that observed a male fitting the description of Blackwell fleeing the area. Blackwell was successfully taken into custody approximately 90 minutes later inside 104-25 212th Place. It was an active crime scene at this location, and we are searching for the weapon. We will be obtaining search warrants.
Police Officer Brian Moore – 25 years of age – was appointed to the department on July 2010. He resides in Long Island. Officer Moore is still in surgery. Doctor Kleinman will give an update on his condition in a moment. The mayor and I have met with his parents. His father and uncle are retired sergeants from the NYPD. He also has a cousin who is on the job. He comes from a police family. Police Officer Erik Jansen was not injured. He is 30 years old and was appointed to the department in July 2011. Demetrius Blackwell is 35 years old and has an extensive arrest history, which includes criminal possession of a weapon and robbery. He has also done time.
I want to thank the medical staff here at Jamaica Hospital – the medical center for their efforts in attending to Officer Moore, who is still in surgery. Again, Dr. Kleinman will update you on his condition. I want to also commend the men and women of the New York City Police Department, who responded to the shooting scene and immediately – one – removed the officer from that scene to the hospital – in all likelihood, potentially saving the officer’s life – and then immediately began the canvasing and search of the neighborhood that resulted in, less than one-and-a-half hours later, the apprehension of the suspect we believe committed this assault upon our officer.
