Bystander Shot in Undercover Police Probe in Mount Vernon Dies

A 61-year-old bystander who was shot Friday by an undercover police officer chasing an alleged illegal firearms dealer near New York City has died, authorities said.

The shooting occurred at about 4 p.m. in a residential neighborhood near Beekman Avenue and Pease Street in Mount Vernon after an undercover NYPD officer met with a suspected illegal-gun dealer in the Bronx and the two men drove to the Westchester County city to conduct the transaction, investigators said.

When they arrived, a second suspect entered the back seat of the car and pointed what appeared to be a gun at the officer's head and demanded cash, police said. The officer handed the gunman some money and he attempted to flee.

The officer signaled his backup team and started to chase the gunman who turned and pointed his weapon at them, investigators said. The officer shot and hit the gunman three times in the torso.

The weapon, recovered by police, turned out to be a replica of a high-caliber gun, investigators said.

Bystander Felix Kumi, who was standing behind the gunman, was also wounded. He was transported to Jacobi Hospital where he where he later died, police said.

In a statement NYPD commissioner William Bratton expressed his "profound sorrow and sympathy" to Kumi's family.

"Mr. Kumi was blameless, and this tragedy has tested and tried his family," Bratton said. "I pray that they may find comfort in their hope of resurrection and awakening, and I tender the Department’s support and service in their grief."

The wounded suspect, identified as Samuel Ruiz, was transported to the hospital in serious condition. The other suspect who initially fled the scene has been arrested and identified as 28-year-old Jeffrey Aristy of the Bronx.

Ruiz, Aristy and Aristy's wif, Ivette Cruz, have been charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance and criminal sale of firearms.

According to a criminal complaint, the undercover investigation against the three dates back several months.

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