Holly MatkinBronx, NY – An off-duty New York State corrections officer who thought he was meeting up with a woman for a date ended up shooting two armed robbers when the encounter turned out to be a setup.
The unnamed corrections officer, who is in his 20s, arranged to meet with 21-year-old Diamond Sanchez for a date at approximately 6 p.m. on Jan. 29, according to the New York Daily News.
He and Sanchez were in a vehicle near Tiebout Street and East 183rd Street in Fordham Heights when they were approached by two men later identified as 26-year-old Leonel Cuevas and 22-year-old Christopher Santana.
One of the two men pulled out a gun and ordered the corrections officer to hand over his belongings.
The corrections officer was also armed, so he drew his weapon and opened fire, hitting Santana in the stomach, hip, and back, and shooting Cuevas in the chest multiple times, the New York Daily News reported.
One of the suspects dropped his gun during the incident, which Sanchez attempted to hide, according to police sources.
The wounded suspects were rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital.
Police said Santana was in stable condition, and Cuevas was listed in critical condition.
No charges are expected to be filed against the corrections officer, police sources told the New York Daily News.
Sanchez, Cuevas, and Santana have all been charged with criminal possession of a weapon and robbery.
Sanchez is also facing an additional charge of tampering with evidence for allegedly trying to hide the dropped gun, the New York Daily News reported.
According to data released by the New York Police Department (NYPD), crime is up almost 39 percent in New York City compared to the same time in 2021, the Daily Mail reported.
Felony assaults are up 12.3 percent, shootings are up 22.4 percent, and robberies are up 33 percent, the data revealed.
