Lower East Side standoff ends with NYPD officers shooting and wounding gunman: cops

NYPD emergency services units shot an armed man who had barricaded himself inside a Lower East Side apartment on Thursday afternoon.

Photo by Dean Moses

NYPD Emergency Services officers shot and critically wounded an armed man on the Lower East Side during a standoff Thursday afternoon, it was reported.

Sources familiar with the investigation said the gunman had barricaded himself inside an apartment at 201 Eldridge St. at about noon on Dec. 14. According to those with knowledge of the incident, the man was apparently wanted for past crimes, including a shooting.

Police swiftly cordoned-off the area and hurriedly evacuated pedestrians underway while the impasse unfolded.

For several hours, officers bearing assault weapons stood poised outside the apartment building, fixated on the window of the residence where the gunman was holed up. Other armed NYPD personnel, lugging riot shields went into the apartment attempting to negotiate a peaceful end to the impasse.

But the peace broke at about 2:10 p.m. Thursday, when from the street, four or five gunshots could be heard blasting inside.

Mere minutes later, the alleged gunman, now wounded, was whisked away on a stretcher by first responders. He was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, and was listed in critical condition.

According to sources familiar with the incident, the gunman had allegedly fired upon police, with several of the shots striking a ballistic shield protecting the officers. One of the cops then returned fire, striking the gunman and bringing the standoff to an end.

That officer was also taken to a local hospital for evaluation, police sources said.

This is a breaking story, check back for further updates.