Man Charged With Shooting Officer, DA Says View Full Caption

QUEENS — An NYPD officer remained in critical condition Monday, two days after he was shot in the head by an ex-con who had spent five years behind bars for trying to kill someone else, officials said.

Officer Brian Moore, 25, was driving an unmarked police car with his partner near 212th Street and 104th Road about 6:15 p.m. when Demetrius Blackwell, 35, opened fire, hitting Moore in the head, officials said.

Moore, a five-year veteran of the force who comes from a police family, was listed in critical condition at Jamaica Hospital after the shooting, police said. An NYPD spokesman said his condition had not improved as of Monday morning.

NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton and Mayor Bill de Blasio met with Moore's parents after the shooting, Bratton said.

Blackwell was arraigned Sunday on charges of attempted murder of a police officer, aggravated assault on a police officer, assault and criminal possession of a weapon, Queens prosecutors said.

If convicted, he faces life in prison, prosecutors said.

He was held without bail, jail records show.

"Last night's shooting once again reminds us of the dangers that our police officers face each day as they carry out their sworn duty to protect and serve our communities," Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.

Moore and his partner, Erik Jansen, were driving down the street when they spotted Blackwell adjusting his waistband, officials said.

They drove up beside him and asked what he had tucked into his waistband, officials said.

Moore then drew the gun and fired, officials said.

"Both officers were still seated in the vehicle and did not have an opportunity to get out or return fire," Bratton said.

Blackwell, who lives near the scene of the shooting, bolted down a nearby alleyway as Jansen radioed for help, police said.

Once responding officers arrived, witnesses pointed them toward Blackwell, who was arrested about 90 minutes later at 104-25 212 Place, police said.

Investigators were still searching for his weapon Monday morning, an NYPD spokesman said.

The organization C.O.P. Shot is offering a $5,000 for information leading to the gun's recovery, officials said.

"Money on the street talks," said the organization's director of operations, John Provetto.

"We are confident that this reward will be incentive for them to come forward," he added.

Blackwell has a long criminal history stretching back to 1995 and includes arrests for robbery, assault, weapons possession, drugs and trespassing, police said.

Blackwell tried to kill someone in July 2000, for which he spent the next five years behind bars, prison records show. He violated his parole in 2007 and spent another year in prison, records show.