Two NYPD cops who were shot while responding to a domestic are discharged from hospital to hero's welcome as it's revealed peace officer shooter was so determined to kill his wife he 'stepped over one of the wounded officers to get to her'
Two NYPD cops shot during a domestic violence incident this week have left hospital to a hero's welcome as a police source revealed the CUNY security officer suspect was so determined to kill his wife he allegedly stepped over one of the wounded officers to try to get to her.
Officers Christopher Wells, 36, and Joseph Murphy, 33, were released from Jamaica Hospital in Queens Thursday morning to be met by a crowd of cheering police officers including NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea.
Wells and Murphy were both seriously wounded after Rondell Goppy, a 41-year-old CUNY Crime Prevention Specialist, opened fire on them Tuesday afternoon inside his home in Springfield Gardens, Queens.
The hero cops had been accompanying Goppy's wife to the home they shared to collect her belongings following a domestic dispute the night before.
Goppy was pronounced dead at the scene after the injured officers returned fire.
The suspect's wife, Sharon Goppy, escaped the incident unscathed.
The two NYPD cops shot during a domestic violence incident this week left hospital to a hero's welcome Thursday
Officers Christopher Wells, 36, (left) and Joseph Murphy, 33, (right) were released from Jamaica Hospital in Queens Thursday morning to be met by a crowd of cheering police officers including NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea
Wells is wheeled out of hospital to a hero's welcome as a police source revealed the CUNY security officer suspect who shot him and Murphy was so determined to kill his wife he allegedly stepped over him to try to get to her
Commissioner Shea told reporters that on this Thanksgiving Day the NYPD is 'thankful' for the officers' speedy recoveries. Wells is helped into a waiting car
The hero cops were greeted with clapping, cheering and bagpipes as they left hospital in time to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with their families.
Both men were wheeled out in wheelchairs by medical staff to the waiting crowd of their wives and NYPD plainclothes and uniformed colleagues.
The two officers showed their ongoing support for the force, with Wells sporting a police jacket and Murphy donning his NYPD hat for the occasion.
Their injuries in the line of duty were clear to see with Murphy, who was shot in both hands and is expected to undergo further surgery on one of them, seen with his hands wrapped in thick bandages.
Wells was shot in the leg, suffering a shattered femur, and also underwent surgery during his hospital stint.
The officers spoke of their relief at going home after the ordeal.
'I'm looking forward to going home and spending time with my family, sit down with the people I love and enjoy a meal. 'I'm extra thankful,' said Murphy, according to the New York Post.
'I'm excited to go home. So happy,' said Wells, who was met by his two-week-old baby.
Commissioner Shea told reporters that on this Thanksgiving Day the NYPD is 'thankful' for the officers' speedy recoveries.
The hero cops were greeted with clapping, cheering and bagpipes as they left hospital in time to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with their families
Both men were wheeled out in wheelchairs by medical staff to the waiting crowd of their wives and NYPD plainclothes and uniformed colleagues
Wells (above) and Murphy were both seriously wounded after Rondell Goppy, a 41-year-old CUNY Crime Prevention Specialist, opened fire on them Tuesday afternoon inside his home in Springfield Gardens, Queens
Their injuries in the line of duty were clear to see with Murphy, who was shot in both hands and is expected to undergo further surgery on one of them, seen with his hands wrapped in thick bandages (above)
'I'm excited to go home. So happy,' said Wells, who was met by his two-week-old baby and wife (above)
An officer carries crutches to the car for one of the wounded officers
'I think when you see the emotion that you see here and smiles in a week where you have two police officers shot, there is no surprise here today what we have to be thankful for,' he said, reported the Post.
'We're just so grateful that these officers are going to be able to get home today, sit on the couch, watch some football with their beautiful families. It's not lost on us really how lucky we are.'
He added: 'We could not be more proud of the job they did here in extreme circumstances in saving lives.'
As the two cops leave hospital to embark on the next phase of their recovery at home, new details emerged of the shooting and the events leading up to it.
Bodycam footage has revealed the gunman stepped over one of the officers he had just shot as he was so desperate to get to and kill his wife, according to a police source.
The source told New York Daily News 'it's clear that he was intent on getting past them so he could kill his wife.'
A huge crowd gathered to greet the two cops as they left hospital on Thanksgiving
Wells was shot in the leg, suffering a shattered femur, and also underwent surgery during his hospital stint
'I'm looking forward to going home and spending time with my family, sit down with the people I love and enjoy a meal. 'I'm extra thankful,' said Murphy (above), according to the New York Post
The source also revealed Goppy had been ordered to surrender his three firearms - a .40-caliber and two 9-mm. weapons - to the NYPD back in July following another domestic dispute with his wife and after he said he had suicidal thougts.
But he was given them back in September after two separate medical evaluations cleared him for work and his wife sent a letter to the NYPD saying she did not feel she was in danger and that she believed they should be returned.
Officers were also called out to the couple's home for several other domestic disputes but no criminal charges were ever brought against Goppy.
Rondell Goppy (pictured), 41, a CUNY Crime Prevention Specialist, was shot dead at the scene
Questions will now be asked over the decision to approve the release of the guns two months before he shot the two cops.
Tuesday's violent shootout unfolded when Sharon, 41, went to the 105th police precinct Tuesday to file a report that her husband choked her the night before during an argument about his alleged cheating.
Wells and Murphy returned to the house with her to go pick Goppy up.
They didn't have a warrant to enter the house, so she was needed to let them into the residence.
The plan was to also collect a bag of her belongings so she could stay with her sister, where her two children were already staying, sources told Daily News.
Goppy wasn't at the home when they arrived.
Sources said the cops were concerned about Goppy's firearms and asked where they were kept but Sharon wasn't sure. Goppy was professionally trained to use guns.
Sharon grabbed some belongings from upstairs and was on the way back down just minutes later when her husband entered the home.
Goppy entered and immediately started firing, according to police sources, adding there 'was no conversation'.
Officials said they recovered two of Goppy's handguns (pictured) at the scene, including a Glock
NYPD crime scene units were pictured at the scene of the shooting on Tuesday
The suspect was reportedly armed with two firearms and used his .40-caliber pistol in the attack.
It is unclear how many shots he and the two officers fired.
Both officers were hit, with Wells struck in the leg first and falling back on the stairs, a source told Daily News.
Murphy responded firing back at Goppy but the suspect continued toward his wife, stepping over Wells who was lying with a bullet in his leg, they said.
Goppy was shot an unknown number of times by the officers, with a source telling the Post they heard around six gunshots.
Sharon, who had been married to Goppy for 17 years, was uninjured.
She ran and hid in the basement and called 911.
Audio of the 911 call obtained by DailyMail.com this week captured the moment officers learned two of their own had been shot, as officials tried to determine the officers' blood type while rushing them to the hospital.
Wells, a father of a three-year-old and infant baby, has been with the NYPD for 14 years.
Murphy has been with the force for six years and had just learned his wife is pregnant.
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