Police hunt for man who attacked, stole gun from off-duty cop in the Bronx

Police are on the hunt, and asking for the public’s help, in capturing  a suspect wanted for beating up an off-duty NYPD officer and stealing his gun as he returned to his Bronx home, cops said Sunday.

The 27-year-old officer was coming home from work wearing a civilian jacket over his uniform when two suspects ran up to him, threatened him with a knife and beat him unconscious — breaking his orbital bone — around 4:12 a.m. Saturday at St. Peters and Tratman Aves. in Westchester Square, according to police. One of the suspects swiped the officer’s gun, police said.

Cops have released a wanted poster depicting a suspect they identified as 23-year-old Taveon Hargrove, calling him “extremely dangerous.”

“In just the past month, we’ve seen some heinous attacks on police officers in NYC, including: one with part of his finger bitten off; another with part of his ear bitten off; and this latest vicious assault resulting in severe fractures to an officer’s face, among too many others,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a post on X, alongside the wanted poster.

“Attack one of our own and you will get the full force of the greatest police department in the world coming for you, just like Taveon Hargrove does now.”

The other suspect has not yet been identified.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

Originally Published: May 25, 2025 at 5:58 PM EDT