Peter Figoski, veteran police officer, shot dead in Brooklyn

A veteran police officer, Peter Figoski, was shot and killed at the scene of a robbery early Monday morning, the New York Police Department said.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Mayor Michael Bloomberg called the shooting a "horrible, depraved criminal attack."

Officer Figoski and his partner, Glenn Estrada, responded to a 911 call reporting a break-in in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, around 2:15 AM Monday morning, said the New York Times' City Room blog.

When they arrived at the basement apartment, they found the tenant, who said he had been robbed by two men who forced their way into his home.

The suspects were still hiding on the scene.

One of them shot Figoski in the left cheek at close range, according to Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly. He was taken to hospital but died of his injuries five hours later.

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The suspected shooter has been identified as Lamont Pride, 27, of Coney Island, New York, who has five prior arrests and one outstanding warrant for aggravated assault, according to NBC New York.

Officer Estrada, who had been engaged in a struggle with the other suspect on the street, pursued Pride after he heard the shot and saw him flee on foot.

Pride was arrested a few blocks away. An illegal semi-automatic pistol with one round discharged was found under a nearby parked car.

He is being held in police custody and faces charges of murder, the Associated Press reported.

The other suspect escaped.

Figoski had served with the NYPD for 22 years, the New York Daily News reported. He made over 200 arrests during his careers and was awarded 12 medals. He leaves behind four daughters.