In the early hours of Saturday morning, a 27-year-old off-duty NYPD officer was viciously attacked in the Bronx, an assault so brutal it left him with multiple facial fractures and a shoe imprint on his face, according to police sources. The officer, whose identity has not been disclosed, was returning home from a shift, still wearing his uniform beneath a civilian jacket, when two men ambushed him near St. Peters Avenue and Tratman Avenue in the Westchester Square area around 4:15 a.m. The assailants knocked him to the ground, pummeled him with punches and kicks, and held a knife to his throat before fleeing with his service weapon, wallet, and iPhone. The officer was rushed to a hospital, where he underwent surgery for severe injuries, including a broken orbital bone. Despite the trauma, he is reported to be in stable condition, a testament to his resilience.
On Wednesday, the NYPD identified 22-year-old Wayne Lucas as the second suspect in this heinous crime, releasing his photograph to the public in hopes of apprehending him. Lucas remains at large, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. Just one day earlier, on Tuesday, the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force, working alongside NYPD detectives, arrested 23-year-old Taveon Hargrove in North Chesterfield, Virginia. In a symbolic act of justice, the marshals used the officer’s own handcuffs to take Hargrove into custody, a detail emphasized by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch in a statement on social media: “He is now in the handcuffs of the officer he assaulted.” Hargrove faces pending charges of attempted murder, assault, and robbery, and officials are working to extradite him back to New York City for prosecution.
The investigation has also implicated Hargrove’s father, 55-year-old Jeffrey Hargrove, who was arrested on Sunday for allegedly using the officer’s stolen credit card at several Bronx bodegas. Charged with petty larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, he was released without bail after his arraignment in Bronx Criminal Court. The brazen nature of the attack, captured on surveillance video released by the NYPD on Monday, has sparked outrage across the city. The footage shows the two suspects relentlessly beating the officer, highlighting the ferocity of the assault and the urgent need to bring both perpetrators to justice.
The Police Benevolent Association (PBA) issued a powerful statement, commending the efforts of the NYPD and U.S. Marshals in apprehending Hargrove but emphasizing that the fight is far from over. The PBA called for unity in ensuring that the justice system holds the perpetrators accountable, stating, “We must stand together to make sure the justice system does its job: protect the cops who protect NYC.” The incident has reignited discussions about the safety of law enforcement officers, particularly in light of recent violent attacks on NYPD members, including one officer who lost part of his finger and another who had part of his ear bitten off in separate incidents over the past month.
This assault underscores the dangers faced by police officers, even off duty, and has prompted city officials to vow relentless pursuit of those who target law enforcement. Mayor Eric Adams, addressing the incident, emphasized a broader message: “When you have dangerous individuals, it doesn’t matter if it is an off-duty officer or a civilian—they will cause harm and have total disregard.” The NYPD has urged the public to provide any information on Lucas’s whereabouts, offering anonymous tip lines to aid in his capture. As the officer continues his recovery, the city remains on edge, awaiting justice for a crime that has shaken its sense of security.
