NYPD officer clinging to life after being shot by ex-con in Queens, police sources say; gunman charged with attempted murder

NYPD officer clinging to life after being shot by ex-con in Queens, police sources say; gunman charged with attempted murder



NYPD Officer Brian Moore (r.) was allegedly shot in the face during a traffic stop in Queens on Saturday by Demetrius Blackwell (l.), who has been charged with attempted murder.

A cop shot in the face by a cowardly ex-con was fighting for his life Sunday following a complication during treatment, a police source said.

NYPD cop Brian Moore, 25, received a steady stream of stone-faced brothers in blue at Jamaica Hospital, where sources said he was in a medically-induced coma. Officials said publicly he remained in critical but stable condition after undergoing emergency surgery.

But a separate police source said the condition of the young cop with five years on the force had grown increasingly dire since the shooting just after 6 p.m. Saturday.

“I heard the officer suffered a brain bleed last night he isn't in good shape," the source said.

The bullet hit Moore, in his cheek and exited the opposite side of his face, police sources said.

One of the cops leaving the emergency room where Moore was being treated shook his head and only said “not good” when asked about the officer’s condition.


Cops look for the gun allegedly used by Demetrius Blackwell to shoot an undercover cop Brian Moore in the head.

Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch was notably reserved following a bedside visit with the gravely wounded cop from Massapequa, L.I.

"We're praying that our hero officer comes through, but with any kind of brain injury it's difficult to tell," Lynch said.

As Moore struggled, authorities announced the alleged gunman, Demetrius Blackwell, 35, had been charged with attempted murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. He was awaiting arraignment.

Meanwhile scores of police continued an intense search for the gun in Queens Village — the neighborhood where the attack occurred.

Cops were ransacking the home where the suspected gunman fled after the shooting. A woman who also lived in the house waited outside, horrified at the violence but frustrated by the aggressive search for the weapon.


A woman, who lives in the house Demetrius Blackwell fled to, said she was with him when he was arrested in front of her house. She refused to give her name and said she was a friend of Blackwell.

"My house is a junkyard. There's paint on the floor," said the woman who refused to give her name. "Now, I have to be escorted to my own home. It's so frustrating."

Officer Moore was driving an unmarked police car when he and partner Erik Jansen, 30, both on-duty but in plainclothes, pulled up behind Blackwell who they had spotted “adjusting an object in his waistband, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said after the attack.

Blackwell, the cousin of former Giants cornerback Kory Blackwell, without warning pulled out a gun and fired at least twice into the police car at the corner of 212th St. and 104th Rd. after Moore asked him what he was doing, police said.

The woman who lived in the house where Blackwell fled said she heard the gunshots.

"When I came outside, all I heard (the officer) saying ... 'Partner, please stay with me.' I saw him pick up his radio and call it in," she said.


Detectives are scouring the scene where Moore was shot, looking for the weapon used during the attack.

Cops nabbed Blackwell, who has nine priors, including twice assaulting officers, at a neighbor’s home around 90 minutes after the attack.

Andre Tucker, 26, who also lives at the house where allegedly Blackwell hid following the attack, said the suspect was one cool customer.

“(Blackwell) was hanging out for an hour and a half, smoking cigarettes and talking like everything is normal," Tucker said.

When cops finally zeroed in on Blackwell they made the other six occupants of the house come out one by one. A 5-month-old baby was also in the house, Tucker recalled.

"Demetrius never came out...When he came out, he was handcuffed,” Tucker said.
THEODORE PARISIENNE/FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Officer Moore was in critical but stable condition after undergoing surgery at Jamaica Hospital, following the attack in Middle Village on Saturday.

Blackwell did several years in prison on attempted murder charges after firing into a car in August 2001 during an attempted robbery, officials said. He was released from the Clinton Correctional Facility in upstate Dannemora in June 2008.

Blackwell was also wanted by authorities on a criminal mischief charge stemming from an incident last November, sources said.

Moore was the fifth NYPD officer shot since last December.

Lynch lamented the recent string of violent confrontations with cops.

“It's getting too dangerous on the streets when everything turns into a confrontation, and those confrontations turn into incidents like this,” Lynch said.

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Officer Brian Moore (pictured) was on duty in plainclothes when he and a partner saw a man in a car “adjusting an object in his waistband.”

The union boss did not criticize Mayor de Blasio’s calls for reforms of the NYPD, as he had following the execution of two cops patrolling Bedford-Stuyvesant in December.

"It is important that anyone, whether you are a citizen of the city, or a leader of the city, support New York City police officers by voice and by action,” Lynch said.

Moore’s father and uncle are both retired NYPD sergeants. The young cop’s neighbors in Massapequa prayed for his recovery.

"My reaction to any bad news is to be optimistic." said Rory Hedels, 32, who grew up across the street from Moore. "I hope he's going to be okay."