Metro

Yonkers cop shot in the face after being ‘ambushed’ by gunmen

A police officer was shot in the face in Westchester County on Monday night after she was ambushed by gunmen, law enforcement sources said.

Officer Kayla Maher, a two-year veteran of the Yonkers Police Department, was hit in the jaw by a blast from an AK-47 near the corner of Rumsey Road and Park Hill Avenue at about 8 p.m., the sources said.

She was responding to reports of a suspicious parked car when the gunmen attacked, law enforcement sources told The Post.

Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles Gardner said two men opened fire.

“We responded to a call of a suspicious vehicle,” Gardner said. “The two males shot at our officers; our officers returned fire.”





There was music blaring from the car when cops arrived.

“Don’t know what the suspects were doing in the car,” Gardner said. “When the officers approached, shots were fired.”

Maher was alert and talking as she was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, where she was listed in serious but stable condition, sources said.

“It could have been much worse,” Gardner said. “Thank God, the officer isn’t in a life-threatening situation.”

It’s believed the bullet went through Maher’s jaw.

Two suspects were in custody, with one injured in the arrest and taken to Westchester Medical Center, officials said.

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano lauded the wounded cop and her partner.

“There is a lot happening right now,” he said. “Those are two of our finest police officers.”





Nick Molinini, who owns a pizza shop across the street from Maher’s home, said customers and neighbors have been worried sick since learning the news.

“We pray for her,” Molinini said. “[She’s an] awesome person, great kid, great cop.”

Additional reporting by Joe Marino and David K. Li





Share this: