Man accused of shooting police officer was on lifetime parole: NYPD
JAMAICA, Queens (PIX11) – The man accused of shooting a police officer and a bystander in Queens on Tuesday is a career criminal with 17 prior arrests, according to the NYPD.
Gary Worthy, 57, is on lifetime parole. He was last arrested six days ago for narcotics and resisting arrest, Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny said.
"He has 17 priors that include murder, robbery, burglary, and narcotics possession," Kenny said.
Worthy has been arrested seven times since 2021. He was accused of committing two armed robberies on Tuesday, one at a bodega on Hillside Avenue and another at a smoke shop on Guy Brewer Boulevard.
Worthy was accused of firing a single shot during each robbery, according to authorities. Witnesses were able to point him out, which led to a shootout in the middle of Jamaica Avenue around 6:30 p.m.
Police Officer Rich Wong, 36, was shot in his thigh. He's a 7-year veteran with the NYPD.
A 26-year-old woman was also shot in the leg, according to authorities. Both are expected to make a full recovery.
Worthy was also shot in the face once by Wong, police said.
Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.