NEW YORK – A 22-year-old man with no known criminal record has been arrested in connection with the broad daylight shooting that injured a rookie NYPD officer earlier this week in Queens. The arrest was prompted in part by surveillance video showing the suspect riding a Lyft near the scene of the shooting, senior department officials said Friday.
The alleged shooter, identified as Devin Sparggins, has been charged with attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon and obstructing government administration.
He was arrested in the Bronx on Thursday night by officers and officers from the U.S. Marshals Task Force and the New York-New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, New York Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said. . How he was identified and captured after less than 30 hours on the run, he said, was the result of excellent police work and collaboration with federal partners, and investigators detailed the story. of the case.
The suspect allegedly opened fire on 22-year-old NYPD officer Brett Boller, who was tipped off by an MTA bus driver, along with another officer, near 161st Street and Jamaica Avenue Wednesday after- noon because two passengers fought for a seat.
The two officers approached the bus as Spraggins ran out the front door.
The rookie officer, who has only been on the job for three months, was able to catch up to him and a brief struggle ensued, authorities said. Spraggins reportedly fired a shot, hitting him near the right hip. Cellphone video of the scene showed the frantic moments as fellow officers carried Boller to safety. The other officer then fired twice.
The suspect escaped on 161st Street and ended up in a parking lot. Once inside, he removed some of his clothes, including his jacket and a black mask, in what Sewell described as an apparent effort at disguise. But, he added, “it did not escape us”.
Indeed, surveillance cameras reportedly showed the suspect getting into a black Nissan at 161st Street and Hillside Avenue. The NYPD identified the vehicle as a rental Lyft and traced the delivery to a private home located at 215th and 62nd streets, authorities said. Investigators searched the property and found social media accounts linked to people associated with it. From there, they were able to proceed to a possible identification of their suspect.
Investigators obtained a search warrant for the home and recovered sneakers believed to belong to the suspect. The man was not home when they arrived, but NYPD officials say the warrant revealed a large amount of evidence that ultimately led them to a Bronx address that was apparently also linked to him. Spraggins was there and was arrested.
A 9mm pistol was recovered from the location, investigators said. A 9mm case and a 9mm magazine were recovered from the scene of the initial firing, officials added, and ballistics results are pending.
Spraggins’ arrest came the same night authorities announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction, then doubled it to $20,000 the same day.
He was not known to the NYPD prior to this case and has no known arrest records, authorities said. They described him as a passenger who also has connections in the Poughkeepsie area.
Boller, for his part, underwent surgery for his injury. He is expected to make a full recovery, Sewell said, although he noted it would be a “long process”. Authorities said he and his family were grateful for the arrest.