A bystander shot accidentally by a New York City police officer working undercover died on Saturday. The bystander was injured when the officer tried to fire on an alleged suspect involved in a drug bust, police said.
Sixty-one-year old Felix Kumi, who was shot on Friday afternoon, passed away before 1 a.m., according to authorities. The man was shot accidentally during an investigation on illegal firearm trade, ABC News reported.
The 37-year old gunman, Alvin Smothers, allegedly fired first. The officer retaliated with 11 rounds, three of which hit Smothers while two hit Kumi, who was standing behind the gunman. Kumi and Smothers were rushed to Jacobi Hospital, located in the Bronx. The undercover officer was not harmed, according to the Daily Mail.
Kumi was a spiritual man that "touched everyone he met," said a family member. The victim, a dedicated Jehovah's Witness member, was just on his way to a repair shop where he was supposed to pick up his car.
"My father died a faithful man," said Rachel Kumi, 25, the victim's daughter, according to the New York Daily News. "It's a travesty that this happened. He loved us and he touched everyone he met."
The NYPD has expressed their condolences as well. "Mr. Kumi was blameless, and this tragedy has tested and tried his family," NYPD Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said, The New York Times reported. "I pray that they may find comfort in their hope of resurrection and awakening."
The Community Affairs Unit of the New York Police Department has been in communication with the Kumi family.
Smothers, the perpetrator of the shooting, and another firearm seller, Jeffrey Aristy, robbed the police officer of $2,400. The police officer was on a month-long operation to locate the supplier of these illegal firearms.
