An off-duty NYPD officer, Chowdhury Nafees, who was attacked in the Bronx, was released from Jacobi Hospital yesterday, a mere four days post ordeal. Following multiple surgeries for facial fractures, the 27-year-old managed to salute the assembled police officers as he left the hospital in a wheelchair. The Bangladeshi immigrant who came to the U.S. five years ago to serve as a police officer was released from the hospital, with community members gathered in support, as per CBS News New York.
The second man involved in the brutal episode, 23-year-old Wayne Lucas, was arrested in Virginia, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch's announcement, as was reported by ABC7NY. This arrest, conducted yesterday, comes a day after the first suspect, Taveon Hargrove, was taken into custody. Both suspects, each 23, are now awaiting extradition back to New York City to face charges for the attack, which was caught on early-morning surveillance video, showing them beating and robbing Nafees at knifepoint.
Ershadur Siddique of the Bangladeshi American Police Association described the officer’s condition on the first day as serious, stating, "His eyes, was bleeding through his eyes nonstop," accoring to reports by CBS News New York. A woman who shared surveillance footage with authorities stated, "He's trying to stand up but he can't. It's horrible," describing the scene captured in the video.
A fundraiser has been set up to help Nafees' family, aiming to raise $50,000. Despite recovering from grave injuries, friends reported to CBS News New York that Nafees plans to use the support of his community and to eventually make a comeback.
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