U.S. Marshals Apprehend Transient Accused Of Shooting Rookie NYPD Officer

Queens, NY – U.S. Marshals have apprehended the alleged gunman accused of shooting a rookie New York police officer after a foot pursuit in Queens earlier this week.

The suspect has been identified as 22-year-old Devin Spraggins, WABC reported.

Police said Spraggins has no criminal history in New York and that he is a transient with “associates” in the Bronx area.

The U.S. Marshals tracked Spraggins down at a home in the Bronx and took him into custody at approximately 8 p.m. on Thursday, WABC reported.

Investigators said they recovered a gun from the home, but it is unknown if it is the same weapon he allegedly used to shoot the rookie New York police officer.

The incident occurred near the intersection of Jamaica Avenue and 151st Street at approximately 3:30 p.m. on April 5, WNYW reported.

Investigators said two officers were flagged down by an MTA bus driver who told them two men on the bus were arguing over a seat.

As the officers were approaching the bus, a man jumped out of the front exit and pushed past them, then took off northbound on 161st Street, WNYW reported.

New York Police Department (NYPD) Officer Brett Boller, a 22-year-old rookie, chased the suspect down.

“One of the officers caught up with the perpetrator,” NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig told WNYW. “A brief struggle occurred.”

That’s when the suspect pulled out a gun and fired one round, hitting Officer Boller in his hip, Chief Essig said.

The second officer, who has also been on the job for less than a year, fired twice in response to the attack, the New York Post reported.

It is unknown if the suspect was hit.

The gunman then took off running down 161st Street and into a parking garage, WNYW reported.

Investigators later recovered some of the clothing the shooter had been wearing that he dumped in the parking garage, including an orange sweatshirt, a black mask, and a black bubble jacket.

They said the suspect has the word “Jocelyn” tattooed on his left hand, WNYW reported.

NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said the gunman “should be considered armed and dangerous.”

NYPD Crime Stoppers released several photos of the suspect on Wednesday night in an effort to identify and locate him.

Wanted for an Attempted Murder of an NYPD Officer: On Wednesday April 5, 2023, at Approx. 3:20 P.M, in front of 90-22 161stStreet @nypd103pct. A unknown individual shot a NYPD Police Officer causing serious injury. Call 1-800-COP-SHOT (267-7468) or 1-800-577-Tips (8477) pic.twitter.com/R2qyjEQKwK

— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) April 6, 2023

Officers swarmed Officer Boller in the wake of the shooting and quickly tied a tourniquet around his leg, the New York Post reported.

He was rushed to Jamaica Hospital, where he underwent surgery, according to WNYW.

#BREAKING
A rookie NYPD cop with just three months on the force was shot in the leg on Wednesday during an altercation in Queens, cops said.

Officer Brett Boller, was struck by gunfire when a suspect opened fire while attempting to evade arrest on 161st St. near Jamaica Avenue pic.twitter.com/tDoZNNQ4wO

— Mekal Shan (@mekalshan) April 6, 2023

Officials said one of the bone that connects the young officer’s leg to his hip was shattered by the bullet, damaging his femoral artery, WABC reported.

Officer Boller was listed in stable condition on Friday morning and is expected to make a full recovery, but he will need months of rehabilitation to repair the damage to his right leg.

The young officer joined the NYPD in July of 2022 and graduated from the law enforcement academy late last year, CBS News reported.

He was assigned to his command in January, Commissioner Sewell said.

Officer Boller’s father is also an NYPD officer, CBS News reported.