Veteran NYPD Officer Critically Injured In Mugging Attack In The Bronx

KEY POINTS

The veteran officer sustained a fractured skull and bleeding in the brain
The three suspects stole the officer's wallet, car keys and cellphone
The police is investigating the matter

A veteran NYPD officer was violently attacked by three men while he was jogging in the Bronx on Tuesday morning, police said. He was off-duty at the time of the incident.

The 48-year-old unidentified cop was out for a morning jog on Olmstead Avenue at around 10:30 a.m. when three men jumped out of a black Honda sedan with a New York license plate and attacked him, New York Post reported.

According to the police, the three suspects repeatedly struck the cop in the head and knocked him unconscious. They then stole his phone, wallet and car keys and ran back to their car, and headed west on Turnbull Avenue.

Fellow officers found the veteran cop lying on the sidewalk, injured and bleeding from his left ear, police told NBC New York. He was unable to stand or speak in the aftermath of the incident.

The 18-year NYPD veteran was immediately taken to Jacobi Medical Center for treatment and was in critical condition. He had sustained a fractured skull and there was internal bleeding in his brain, police added.

Police Benevolence Association President Pat Lynch issued a statement, affirming that cops are on the lookout for the perpetrators.

"While we pray at our injured brother's bedside tonight, police officers across this city are searching for the cowards who did this to him. Make no mistake: we will find them," Lynch said.

Cops are investigating to uncover the identities of the three suspects. Authorities have released images of the three, who are also believed to be involved in multiple other robberies taking place in the area.

Police sources told NBC New York that the mugging pattern of the three suspects is similar to at least 19 robberies that have taken place in the city since Aug. 8.

Police statistics are shedding light on an unprecedented surge in the number of robberies in the 43rd precinct, where the cop was attacked.

Last month, a 39-year-old pedestrian was attacked and robbed by two suspects. The attackers were described as male, with "dark complexion, thin build, Afro hair." The New York police also released a video of the incident.