NY Firefighter Grazed after Gunshots Fired Near Station
Source Times Union, Albany, N.Y.
TROY, NY—City detectives are investigating a shots-fired incident near the Fire Department's Central Station that resulted in a firefighter being grazed by shrapnel or pavement.
Police said that about 8:45 a.m. Saturday, someone fired a handgun from inside a vehicle traveling in the area of 6th Avenue and Jacob Street. The suspect appeared to be targeting another occupied vehicle, police said.
A city patrol officer was in the area at the time, heard the shots and notified a police dispatcher while trying to locate the suspect. Police were also getting 911 calls about the incident as well as radio reports from Troy firefighters.
A firefighter standing in the front of the station was struck by a piece of shrapnel or pavement caused by the suspect's gunshot. She sustained no lasting injury, police said.
Fire Chief Eric J. McMahon said the incident took place as firefighters were busy around the station checking equipment inside and outside the fire station. He said the firefighter was grazed in the neck.
"During that event, whether it was a bullet splatter or a ricochet and something kicked up ... or if it was just coincidental, one of our firefighters during the exchange felt something strike her on the neck. She was not injured," McMahon said. "Regardless, it is a shocking event. ... It just goes back to the fact that no areas, no times are immune from these types of events. It happened at 9 o'clock on a Saturday morning."
Patrol officers, evidence technicians and detectives continued the preliminary investigation at the scene. All the involved suspects and potential targeted victims fled before police arrived. Police said they have no reason to believe any other person was struck by gunfire. Evidence has been collected and the investigation will continue.
Brendan J. Lyons and Tim Blydenburgh contributed to this report
___
(c)2021 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.)
Visit the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) at www.timesunion.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
