An NYPD officer is accused of randomly opening fire at a passing motorist on Tuesday, NBCNews.com reported.
According to Pelham authorities, Brendan Cronin, 27, was off-duty when he fired his NYPD 9 mm handgun at a car driving near Lincoln Avenue and Sixth Avenue around 11:55 p.m.
The 47-year-old victim was shot in the torso, arm, and hand, police said. His name has not been released and his current condition is unknown.
NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton believes alcohol may have played a role in the shooting while one witness claims it was road rage.
Travis Hood, who was outside of his apartment when the incident occurred, said he saw one car cut off another vehicle.
The driver who was cut off "was screaming at the top of his voice, climbed out the window -- not even opened the door, he just sat on his window and just 'pow pow pow pow pow.'"
"He emptied his clip, and I heard his clip go off," he said. "Emptying his clip, that's not self-defense, that's rage."
Hood told NBCNews.com he didn't stay around for much longer in fear of more violence.
"I was out of there, I was gone," he said.
Once local police responded to the shooting, they found Cronin driving with his hazards on and followed him for about a mile to New Rochelle, where he allegedly stuck his gun out of the window.
After ordering him to hand over the gun and car keys, officers arrested him.
An unidentified police source said Cronin was so drunk he "doesn't remember what happened," according to the New York Daily News.
The NYPD officer was charged with assault, NBCNews.com said. It is not known if he has legal representation yet.
About three hours later, another NYPD officer opened fire outside of a New Jersey strip club after seeing her ex-boyfriend with a new girlfriend.
Sgt. Wanda Anthony fired at least one round at her ex though no one was hit, authorities said. She then fled the scene and was eventually pulled over by Watchung Police officers.
