Suspected cop shooter surrenders in Queens

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Police say a man suspected of shooting an NYPD sergeant in the legs last month has surrendered to authorities.

Police say 24-year John Thomas, of Queens, was taken into custody by detectives while accompanied by his lawyer. It happened at about 7 p.m. Sunday in the parking lot of a Pep Boys store in Queens.

NYPD Sergeant Craig Bier, 44, was shot in both legs while working with an anti-gang unit in the Jamaica section of Queens the night of August 8. Authorities say a Ruger .09-mm pistol was recovered behind a building on 107th Avenue, not far from where Bier was shot while chasing the suspect.

The 15-year veteran was hospitalized in stable condition and released a few days later.

The manhunt for Thomas went on for more than a month after police found his apartment keys at the scene and his fingerprints on the ammo clip of the gun used in the shooting.

Authorities searched his home in a Queens housing project and hundreds of addresses across five states.

Thomas is charged with attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon.

(The Associated Press contributed to this article)

---
Get Eyewitness News Delivered

Facebook | Twitter | Newsletters | Text Alerts

Get more New York News »

new york city, jamaica, queens, arrest, nypd, police officer shot, new york news, marci gonzalez

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•