HOW ABOUT GERARD CARTER..... OFFICER IS SHOT IN HEAD THIS STORY, WAS REPORTED, BY: K., C. BAKER,, HENRI E., CAUVIN, BILL, HUTCHINSON, HELEN, KENNEDY, ALICE, MCQUILLAN, TOM, RAFTERY. IT, WAS WRITTEN, BY: HELEN, KENNEDY 1998, 27 Jul, 12:00 AM A 17-year-old paroled killer wanted in another murder coldly shot a uniformed cop in the head at point-blank range outside a Staten Island housing project last night, police alleged. Phalanxes of riot-gear clad cops turned Staten Island into an armed camp early this morning as they hunted Shatiek Johnson, who served only one year for a 1996 manslaughter conviction and is a suspect in a July 16 murder. Officer Gerard Carter, 28, a five-year NYPD veteran and a resident of Staten Island, was clinging to life as he underwent brain surgery early this morning at St. Vincents Hospital, where he arrived without vital signs and was resuscitated in the emergency room. He is the father of a 6-year-old son. This is another example of the parole system putting the lives of police officers and other innocent citizens at risk, said Mayor Giuliani. He added that Carter was in very, very serious condition and we are praying for his survival. Police said Carter, who was driving past the West Brighton Houses in a marked van with his partner about 9:30 p. m., recognized Johnson and slowed down to approach him. Johnson, of 1077 Castleton Ave. in the complex, allegedly shot at Carter through the windshield, striking the officer in the temple. Carters partner, Eric Storch, returned fire, but the suspect got away. Storch, who was seen dabbing at his partners bleeding head, was treated for trauma last night at Bayley Seton Hospital. The housing project, a complex of eight eight-story buildings, was soon flooded with hundreds of helmeted cops. Using dogs, helicopters and even tanks, they launched a massive manhunt for the gunman as residents huddled fearfully in their apartments. Others gathered in the street, angrily cursing the cops. The Brooklyn-bound span of the Verrazano Bridge was closed apparently to keep the suspect from escaping and cops were watching the ferry terminal and all other bridges. Police said Johnson pleaded guilty to beating 32-year-old Richard Martin to death in 1996 when he was 15 and was released after serving one year of a one to three-year sentence. He was charged as a juvenile and was on parole until next April. Giuliani called the sentence woefully inadequate. Johnson was arrested June 18 for fare beating in Times Square and was sentenced to one day of community service. But he failed to show up, leading to a warrant for his arrest. Johnson also was wanted for questioning in the July 16 murder of Eric Troutman, who was shot multiple times at the Markham Houses in Staten Island. Police Commissioner Howard Safir was out of town last night but the mayor and First Deputy Commissioner Patrick Kelleher arrived at St. Vincents about an hour after the shooting. How this could happen, I have no idea. Something is wrong, Kelleher said. Carters mother, ex-wife and girlfriend were at the hospital as he underwent surgery. Police spokesmen said Carter was considered an aggressive, accomplished cop and had racked up a record of 76 arrests. It was the latest shooting to rock the NYPD this year. Two cops have been killed in the line of duty since January. Carter was shot as he sat in the drivers seat of a marked police van parked near a playground in a courtyard in front of 810 Henderson Ave. A nearby EMS supervisor rushed to the scene and started performing CPR in the van. A full-bore search ensued for Johnson, described as 5-foot-8, with dreadlocks, and wearing a multi-colored shirt and shorts. Residents of the housing project huddled in their apartments as squadrons of cops carrying sledgehammers and shotguns flooded the complex, going door to door and floor to floor with a picture of Johnson. In the parking lot, cops took up positions, crouching behind cars as a helicopters search light swept the streets and courtyards.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 00:07:21 +0000
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