This New York state trooper stared down the barrel of a gun and lived to tell about it.
The trooper was shot during a traffic stop Friday morning on Interstate 88 in Schenectady County by a man just out of prison after serving 11 years for manslaughter, authorities said.
The gunman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, state police said.
The trooper is expected to survive.
The drama unfolded when Trooper Richard Albert stopped an SUV that was speeding at about 100 mph around 11:10 a.m., the state cops said.
When Albert approached the driver’s side of the car a man reached out of the window and opened fire, hitting the trooper in his left upper arm and shoulder, authorities said.
Albert returned fire, while the shooter and the driver exited the vehicle, and the gunman made a run for it, state police said. The driver was taken into custody unharmed at the scene, officials said.
The gunman, Nelson Troche, 32, of Schenectady, was found about 90 minutes later in the area of Darby Hill Road in Duanesburg with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to state police.
The mortally wounded suspect was taken via helicopter to Albany Medical Center, where he died. Albert was taken to Ellis Hospital by State Police and has since been released, authorities said.
The lucky state trooper’s body cam captured a chilling image of the barrel of a gun being pointed at him.
Troche had been released from prison in March for first-degree manslaughter in the Bronx, according to state corrections department records.
The details of the matter were not immediately available.
Tweeted Gov. Kathy Hochul: “Every day, @nyspolice troopers put their safety on the line to protect us. One of our troopers was shot in the line of duty during a traffic stop today [Friday]. Thankfully, he is expected to recover. My thoughts are with our trooper’s family and loved ones.”