Police shot and wounded a 49-year-old man outside a Bronx deli Monday afternoon after he allegedly opened fire on officers, according to the New York Police Department. He was hospitalized with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
The confrontation occurred around 3:20 p.m. near Bainbridge Avenue and East 194th Street in the Fordham neighborhood. Police identified the man as Victor Soto and said he had threatened workers and customers with a handgun during a dispute inside the store.
According to police, Soto subsequently walked outside and struck the deli’s glass window with the weapon. Two uniformed officers arriving in a marked patrol vehicle ordered him to drop the gun, but he allegedly pointed it toward them before an exchange of gunfire.
Officers struck Soto, who was taken into custody and transported to St. Barnabas Hospital. Police said he was in stable condition and expected to survive. The responding officers were taken to a hospital for evaluation; none was struck by gunfire.
Investigators recovered a firearm at the scene. NYPD officials said the encounter was recorded by officers’ body cameras and surveillance cameras inside and outside the deli.
The circumstances that led to the initial dispute remained unclear. As of Monday night, police had not announced charges against Soto, and the investigation was continuing.
