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Coronado Molestation Suspect Killed In New York City Shootout

Police officers stand guard at the scene of a shooting in the Greenwich Village neighborhood in New York, July 28, 2014.
Associated Press
Police officers stand guard at the scene of a shooting in the Greenwich Village neighborhood in New York, July 28, 2014.

Two federal marhshals, New York cop wounded trying to arrest fugitive

NEW YORK — Authorities say a sex-assault suspect from Coronado got in a shootout Monday afternoon with law enforcement in New York City that left the suspect dead and two federal marshals and a police detective wounded.

The shootout happened in Manhattan's West Village neighborhood, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. The agency identified the slain molestation suspect as Charles Richard Mozdir, 32.

Charles Richard Mozdir was shot and killed by law enforcement in New York on July 28, 2012.
San Diego Crime Stoppers
Charles Richard Mozdir was shot and killed by law enforcement in New York on July 28, 2012.

A $1 million bench warrant was issued for Mozdir in June 2012 after he skipped an arraignment in San Diego Superior Court on child sexual assault charges.

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The New York Times reported that the shooting occurred in a smoke shop, and that the suspect's gun was recovered. The Times also said that "three law enforcement officers were rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where one was in surgery and the others were being treated for their injuries." The Times also said:

The detective was shot twice in the torso, one marshal was shot in the buttocks and the other was shot in the shoulder, according to Stephen Davis, a spokesman for the Police Department.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said it appeared the wounds to the law enforcement officers were not life-threatening and described them as being in "good spirits" after visiting them at hospital.

New York Police Commissioner William Bratton said at a media briefing that Mozdir was armed with a .32-caliber revolver and had 20 more rounds of ammunition in his pockets. At the briefing, he and de Blasio displayed the bullet-ridden body armor worn by the 20-year NYPD veteran.

"They have to put their lives on the line to protect us," de Blasio said.

Mozdir's case had recently been featured on CNN's "The Hunt with John Walsh."

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He was accused of abusing a young boy while babysitting him. Authorities said they later found evidence of child pornography and bestiality on his cellphone and computers.

San Diego County Crimestoppers made him a "Friday Fugitive" on April 19, 2013. In an online post, Crimestoppers said this about the case:

Mozdir made threats to take his own life and threats have been made to the victim’s family. Mozdir has a handgun registered to him and has been seen with a second handgun. Mozdir is possibly accompanied by black Labrador named “Lucky”.