NYPD officer shot in the head on New Year's morning

A New York Police Department officer survived being shot in the head on New Year's morning while he slept in his car between shifts.

A bullet was fired through a rear window of the officer's personal car parked outside of his Harlem police precinct around 6:15 a.m., NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said during a press conference Saturday, her first day on the job.

An on-duty sergeant saw the officer get out of his vehicle with bleeding from his head. The officer, identified as a seven-year NYPD veteran named Keith, was rushed to New York-Presbyterian Hospital, where he underwent surgery for a fractured skull and to have several bullet fragments removed.

An NYPD medical official said the shot to the officer's temple was "miraculously deflected and he's going to make a full recovery." The deflection was caused by either the window or his skull and "it missed vital structures by millimeters," he said.

Police are investigating the incident and offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the suspect's arrest.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, also during his first day on the job, said: "We must not only find the gun, but we must find the person who discharged the weapon and we must find those who believe they are going to destroy our city with gun and gang violence. That is not going to happen."

A former NYPD officer, Adams said: "Mission one is to deal with the gun violence in our city. You don’t start bringing in the New Year with bringing in violence. It’s unacceptable, and I made that clear on the campaign trail, and I’m going to live it out as the Mayor of the City of New York. We will find those who are carrying guns and we will make sure that they are removed off our streets."

The crime rate is increasing in New York City, as the department is facing staffing shortages.