2 NYPD sergeants shot following armed NYC robbery, suspected gang member in custody: police

Two police sergeants were shot Thursday during a struggle with a suspected gang member who had allegedly robbed several women inside a Lower East Side business moments earlier, according to police.

The 22-year-old suspect, identified as Joshua Dorsett, allegedly shot one of the officers in the groin, and the same bullet passed through and grazed the other cop in the left leg, according to the police.

Both cops were taken to Bellevue Hospital and are expected to survive.

Dorsett was taken into custody at the scene, police said during a press conference Thursday evening.

As they fought, the gunman sunk a hand into his waistband, yanked out a pistol and fired – striking, sources said.

Dorsett — who is affiliated with the local “Up the Hil” gang, according to cops — has three prior arrests, including for criminal possession of a controlled substance. He is currently on probation and even visited his probation officer Thursday morning.

Dorsett — who is affiliated with the local “Up the Hill” gang, according to cops — has three prior arrests, including for criminal possession of a controlled substance. He is currently on probation and even visited his probation officer Thursday morning.

Qatar paid for NYPD commissioner’s Middle East trips after Adams admin was mum on who picked up tab

Before the shooting, Dorsett allegedly robbed multiple women of purses during an armed stickup at a Mahjong Parlor at 91 Canal Street at around 4:15 p.m., NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.

When officers responded, the victims told them the suspect fled on Delancey Street where the pair of sergeants spotted a person matching the description the women gave about seven minutes later, Kenny said.

They attempted to restrain him but the suspect, later ID’ed as Dorsett, resisted.

Dorsett and the two sergeants got into an ensuing struggle against a vehicle before the accused gangbanger allegedly pulled a gun from his waistband and fired one round.

The officers did not return fire despite both being shot.

Other responding officers were able to restrain Dorsett and take him into custody. Charges against the suspected gunman were pending Thursday night.

Police recovered a 45 Taurus semi-automatic pistol at the scene, Kenny said.

Driver who plowed into NY nail salon, killing NYPD officer and 3 others, guzzled booze for 5 hours, hit 78 mph before crash: DA

The two wounded cops were then rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where they were recovering Thursday night.

One of the sergeants is 43 years old and has been with the NYPD for 16 years. The other sergeant is 34 years old and has been with the police department for 11 years, NYPD Chief of the Department Jeffrey Maddrey and sources said.

Maddrey said both sergeants are in “good spirits.”

The officer grazed in the leg was released from the hospital at around 9 p.m. to a crowd of uniformed officers cheering as he was pushed out the doors in a wheelchair. The sergeant hit in the groin is expected to remain in the hospital overnight.

Mayor Eric Adams commended the cops during the press briefing earlier in the evening.

“To put your life at risk for others, to answer the calls of service and to respond and walk, run towards danger as people move away from it,” Adams said. “The NYPD moved quickly in response to this armed robbery and focused their resources to swiftly apprehend the perpetrator.”

The chaotic struggle happened during broad daylight hours in the busy lower Manhattan neighborhood — scaring bystanders.

Maxwell Vice, 25, of the Lower East Side, said he watched the ordeal go down as it happened.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR METRO DAILY NEWSLETTER

“There’s a scuffle at this corner and there’s like four or five officers, and out of nowhere I hear a pop and everyone ducks,” Vice told The Post. “I ducked because I didn’t know if there was going to be a shootout with the cops. But then, out of nowhere, like 400 cops came in.”

Vice described the suspect as a tall man wearing an all-gray Nike tracksuit.

“They said he had a gun, but I couldn’t tell because he was running so fast,” Vice said, describing the scuffle as one perp against about two dozen cops.

“He was pressing them,” he said. “When I saw he was pressing the police I was like, ‘Oh my God, someone’s gonna get shot.’ That’s why I crouched.

“Before I heard the shot, it was already clear that an altercation was going to happen. So I ducked because I wasn’t getting shot by no f–king bullet.”

The police shooting comes after NYPD officer and married father of one Jonathan Diller, 31, was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Queens this March.

NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban said he was relieved both sergeants will recover from Thursday’s shooting.

“And as the mayor said, today is yet another reminder of the dangers we’ll see police officers face every day as they go out there to keep our city safe,” Caban said.

PBA President Patrick Hendry said in a statement the incident involved “another repeat offender who thought he could attack police officers and escape justice” and called on the court system to be tougher in halting crime.

“We have been in courtroom after courtroom across this city, demanding real consequences for violence against police officers,” he said.

“Our justice system needs to start delivering those consequences – not just when the spotlight is on, but every single time.”

Additional reporting by Valentina Jaramillo and David Propper

For the latest metro stories, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/metro/