An NYPD sergeant fatally shot himself in the head inside his car in Queens on Monday evening, according to law enforcement sources. The 44-year-old cop, who worked in Queens, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound around 7:20 p.m. on a residential block in Flushing, police and sources said.
The self-inflicted gunshot occurred Monday evening in Queens. The 44-year-old man was found and pronounced dead after 7 p.m. Authorities have not released his identity pending family notification. More information about the apparent suicide was not immediately available as the investigation is ongoing.
The sergeant’s death comes a few months after off-duty NYPD officer Gregory Purvis shot and killed himself inside an Upper Manhattan apartment in August. At the time, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry highlighted how the stressors of police work take a mental toll on many members of the force.
“We lost another brother to the trauma of this work,” he wrote online after Purvis’ death. “To the men and women who wear the uniform, please know that there are always, always people willing to listen about the bad days, about the days that hit too close to home.”
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
