New York Police Officer Fatally Shot; Suspect Dead

March 31, 2014
Johnson City Officer David Smith was fatally shot and the suspected gunman was killed on Monday.

A Johnson City, N.Y. police officer was shot and killed with his own weapon Monday morning.

Officer David Smith responded to a reported disturbance around 7 a.m. at Southern Tier Imaging on Harrison Street in Binghamton when he was attacked by a suspect who took his duty weapon during a struggle before shooting him twice, according to The Press & Sun-Bulletin.

The suspect, James Clark, opened fire on another officer, who shot him.

Smith died at the scene, while Clark died during surgery, Police Chief Joseph Zikuski told the newspaper. The chief added that the officer didn't even have a chance to exit his vehicle.

Dispatchers called in a bomb-detecting dog and the Endicott bomb squad was put on standby. Hospital staff at nearby UHS Wilson Medical Center were asked to evacuate two buildings and witnesses were taken to a nearby police station.

Hospital officials said that patients and staff are safe, as is the campus and its vicinity, but that certain offices are closed for the day by police order.

State police, the Broome County Sheriff's Office and the Johnson City and Binghamton police departments are investigating the incident.

The 18-year veteran of the department is survived by his wife and their child.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Officer.com will provide more information on this story as it becomes available.

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