Shootout with Cops: Bronx Man, 19, Dies

Shootout With Cops: Bronx Man, 19, Dies

By Chapin Wright

Police in Harlem shot and killed a-19-year-old Bronx resident early yesterday after he fired at two officers after a traffic accident, police said.
In another, unrelated incident, a police bullet aimed at an attacking pit bull terrier ricocheted and struck a passerby in the arm.

The fatal shooting in Harlem occurred at Audubon Avenue and 173rd Street at about 12:45 a.m. when the victim, Santos Cuevas of 68 W. 238th St., became involved in an auto accident with another, unidentified man, said police spokesman Anthony Mazzola.

When the other motorist produced a baseball bat, Cuevas opened his trunk and took out a handgun, Mazzola said. Cuevas then fired several shots over the other man's head, he said. Hearing the shots, two uniformed anti-crime officers from the 34th Precinct pulled up to the scene in their unmarked car, Mazzola said.

When they ordered Cuevas to drop his gun, he leveled the weapon at them and fired one shot. The officers returned fire, hitting Cuevas in the shoulder and side, Mazzola said.

It was not immediately known how many, shots were fired. Cuevas ran east on West 173rd Street for about 30 feet before he collapsed and died, he said.

The second shooting occurred at 10:30 a.m. yesterday when two officers from the' 32nd Precinct responded to a 911 call about an emotionally disturbed man on the sidewalk with a pit bull, he said.

At Lenox Avenue and 139th Street, the man pulled out what appeared to be a gun and headed into a nearby park, pursued by the officers, Mazzola said. The man tripped and dropped the gun, which turned out to be a fake, Mazzola said.

The officers cornered the man and his dog, and police placed a garbage can in front of them to keep them at bay. But the dog lunged at one of the officers - Ian McGrouther .- who fired two shots at the put bull, Mazzola said.

One of the shots ricocheted off the pavement and hit Barry Adams, who was walking near the park. Adams was taken to Harlem Hospital with a graze
would to his right. arm Mazzola raid-