Two NYPD officers shot pursing robbery suspect identified as Venezuela illegal immigrant

Two New York City Police Department officers were shot early Monday while chasing a suspect who is purportedly an illegal immigrant from Venezuela. 

The shooting occurred at about 1:45 a.m. in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens, according to Fox News. 

The officers were working on a crime spree involving robberies by perpetrators on motorized scooters. The incident began when the officers saw the the male suspect apparently driving one driving illegally, then trying to flee on foot.

The suspect has been identified as 19-year-old Bernardo Raul Castro Matta.

During the foot chase, the suspect shot at the two officers, who returned fire.

One officer was shot in his bullet-proof vest, the other in his leg. Both are in stable condition and are expected to recover, FoxNews.com also reports.