Hammer-attack suspect shot by police in midtown

Crime scene investigators at the scene where an officer shot a suspect in a series of hammer attacks at West 37th Street and 8th Avenue in midtown Manhattan on May 13, 2015. Photo Credit: TNS / Jasin Boland

The man connected to multiple hammer attacks earlier this week was shot by police on 37th Street and 8th Avenue Wednesday morning, according to Commissioner Bill Bratton.

Cops identified the man as David Baril, and said he is in critical but stable condition at Bellevue Hospital Center. Baril was charged with seven felony counts of assault.

Two officers, Lauren O’Rourke and Geraldo Casaigne, noticed Baril while responding to an unrelated assault at 38th and 8th Ave, and they followed him for a block. Baril turned around then took out his hammer and attempted to strike the female officer with the claw end of the hammer, Bratton said. Her partner saw the struggle and fired his weapon four times.

O’Rourke suffered abraisons and lacerations and is currently being treated at Bellevue. Casaigne is also being treated at Bellevue. Bratton said Casaigne “very well may have saved his partner’s life.”

“The officers acted professionally and heroically,” Bratton said a press conference hours after the event.

“I was standing drinking my coffee, I saw the guy go down in the street. He didn’t even turn around,” said Anthony O’Grady.

Officials were seen inspecting a hammer dropped by the suspect in the intersection. After Monday’s attacks, Manhattan Chief of Detectives William Aubry said police traced Baril’s Metrocard to 34th and Broadway, and officers in the area were on alert for him.

Daniel Dones, 29, a concierge at a hotel on 37th Street, was helping guests when someone ran in and told them police were swarming the corner. At first he was worried a guest had been shot, but he soon learned the man he first heard about on the news three days ago was the victim He was surprised this confrontation took place so close to Times Square, a generally very busy tourism area surrounded by police officers at all times.

“You assume it is [safe] at least,” he said. “When you hear Times Square all you think of are police officers.”

A few hours after the shooting, investigators in white full body suits surveyed the scene on 8th Ave.