Police: Officer Fatally Shoots Theft Suspect Fleeing in Stolen Car With 2 Kids Inside

An Amityville man was fatally shot by police Sunday night after he fled the scene of a larceny at the Bay Shore Best Buy store and then attempted to get away in a stolen car with two young children inside, police said.

A taser was twice ”ineffective” on 21-year-old Denzel Brown before an officer fired the fatal gunshot as Brown tried to drive away, police said.

The incident started at 7:46 p.m. when Third Precinct patrol officers responded to a 911 call about a larceny that occurred at the Best Buy located at 1851 West Sunrise Highway.

When the first officer arrived, a witness indicated to the officer where the suspect, identified as Brown, was hiding outside the store, police said. As the officer approached, Brown fled through the parking lot and the officer chased him on foot, police said. The officer deployed a taser, but it was ineffective, police said.

As Brown was running away, he attempted to open the doors of both moving and parked vehicles that were in the parking lot and along Nevada Avenue, police said.

He then attempted to steal a running car from a couple while two children, ages 4 and 6, were sitting in the back seat, police said.

The couple was screaming at Brown to stop as the officer caught up with him and ordered him out of the vehicle, but Brown began to drive away and the officer fired one shot at him, police said.

The officer opened the car door and attempted to remove Brown from the vehicle, police said.

During the struggle, the officer deployed the taser again, but it remained ineffective, police said. The officer then fired another gunshot before assisting officers arrived and took Brown into custody, police said.

Brown was transported via Bay Shore-Brightwaters Ambulance to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, where he died during surgery, police said.

This investigation is continuing and police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392 or call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

Photo: Google Maps

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