One Cop Dies, Second Shot By Fellow Officer

One Cop Dies, Second Shot By Fellow Officer

Veteran Police Officer Kevin Lee collapsed and died Jan. 27 during a struggle while arresting one of the three men suspected of stealing a laptop computer from an Upper East Side store.

P.O. KEVIN LEE It is unclear why Mr. Lee, 31, who had no reported medical problems, died while attempting to apprehend the suspect at East 86th St. and Lexington Ave. He was pronounced dead at Lenox Hill Hospital at 7:55 p.m.

The city Medical Examiner's Office was to conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Mr. Lee, a 10-year veteran of the force from The Bronx, was working in a plainclothes robbery surveillance unit when the incident occurred.

The police said that Mr. Lee and two of his colleagues began following the three suspects as they entered five different stores starting on Lexington Ave. around East 68th St. When the men left the last store, Snappy Auctions, one officer entered to speak with the clerk, who told him that a laptop was stolen. The officer then radioed that information to Mr. Lee's team.

Suspects Arrested

The three teenage suspects, Lorenzo Walters, Julio Marquez, and Rico Banks, have all since been arrested. The teens, who have prior criminal records, have been charged with robbery, grand larceny, and resisting arrest.

The following morning off-duty Police Officer Eric Hernandez was shot and seriously wounded outside a Bronx White Castle restaurant by a veteran officer after he failed to follow orders to drop his gun.

Based on three surveillance tapes from inside the restaurant, Mr. Hernandez was badly beaten by a group of men inside before the other cops arrived. The fight apparently began after the men demanded a refund for their sodas and then mockingly suggested that Mr. Hernandez, who was allegedly intoxicated, pay for the drinks.

After the scuffle, in which the men hit and kicked Mr. Hernandez, the off-duty officer crawled out of the restaurant, located at 1831 Webster Ave.

Pulled Out Gun

He then grabbed Brian Munoz, who was waiting for friends outside. Officer Hernandez mistook Mr. Munoz for one of his five attackers, pinned him to the floor, put his gun to his head, and threatened to shoot.

Veteran Police Officer Alfredo Toro and his partner then pulled up and ordered Mr. Hernandez to drop his weapon three or four times, according to witness accounts. They said Mr. Hernandez ignored those orders and pointed his gun towards the officers.

Mr. Hernandez may not have heard the commands from Officer Toro because of his condition as a result of the beating and his prior drinking.

Shot Three Times

Mr. Toro shot and hit Mr. Hernandez three times, once in each thigh and once in the abdomen, shredding several main arteries. Mr. Hernandez never identified himself as a cop and his occupation was not learned until his badge was discovered inside his pocket in St. Barnabas hospital.

He has received more than 100 units of blood, some of which was flown to the hospital by NYPD helicopters from regional blood banks. At presstime Jan. 30 he was in critical condition and the police were still searching for Mr. Hernandez's five assailants.