Two Brooklyn men arrested for the shooting of Nassau County Police 3rd Precinct Officer Mohit Arora and for a home invasion in North New Hyde Park last week pleaded not guilty to charges during their arraignments last Thursday.
The suspects, Cong Xu, 21, of Brooklyn and Renhang Qiu, 22, of 348 54th St., Brooklyn, were arrested near the scene of the home invasion at 41 Campbell St. within minutes after Xu allegedly shot Arora in the hip early in the morning on Aug. 14.
Xu and Qiu are both charged with burglary 1st degree, attempted robbery 1st degree and criminal possession of a weapon 2nd degree. In addition, Xu is charged with attempted murder of a police officer 1st degree.
Qiu was arraigned in 1st District Court in Hempstead while Xu was arraigned in Nassau Medical Center, where he has been treated for an injury to his ear, according to Nassau County District Attorney spokesman Chris Munzing.
The two men were in court on Monday for a conference and are scheduled to make another court appearance on Sept. 5, Munzing said.
The 32-year-old Arora, a six-year veteran of the police force, and another officer were responding to a call received at 1:49 a.m. of a burglary in progress at the Campbell Street house, said Detective Vincent Garcia, a spokesman for the police.
The two police officers thought the burglary suspects were surrendering as the suspects exited the front door of the house and approached the officers, Garcia said.
But the suspects then started to run and as the police officers pursued them, when Xu fired several rounds from a gun over his shoulder at the police, detectives said.
Garcia said the officers returned fire as a bullet struck Arora in the right hip, fracturing the hip bone and then exiting Arora. He was rushed to the hospital in a police car as a search for the suspects ensued, Garcia said.
Arora is now resting at home, according to Nassau County Police Benevolent Association President James Carver, who said he was released from the hospital over the weekend.
Carver said Arora is still in pain but added, ”He is recovering.”
Both suspects were caught following a search that included the use of a police helicopter. Police said Xu was apprehended on Flower Lane and Nugent Street. Qui was caught on Lakeville Road at Sylvia Lane.
“We had an extensive manhunt at the time,” Garcia said.
Garcia said the gun fired by Xu was recovered at the scene.
The home’s owners, Michael and Annie Chen, had been awakened in their upstairs bedroom by noise in the house and called 911, police said. Police said Xu and Qui entered the house through a basement window.
Moments later, they were confronted by Xu brandishing a 9-millimeter handgun, according to police spokesman Det. Mike Pitsko.
“He pointed the gun straight at me,” Chen said, according to a report in Newsday. Chen, according to Newsday, said the would-be burglar entered the bedroom and yelled “Don’t move” at his and his wife.
“It was terrifying,” Chen was reported as saying. “We just tried to stay calm.”
Pitsko said Xu quickly left the house when he heard police arriving outside without taking anything from the home.
Garcia said police believe the burglary attempt was not a random act.
“There was a reason this house was chosen,” he said.
This wasn’t the first time Arora sustained a serious injury on the job. Nassau County Police Benevolent Association James Carver said a few years ago Arora’s police car flipped over while he was driving in a high-speed chase on the Cross Island Parkway. Arora sustained back injuries at that time, and spent three months in sick leave and taking on light duty.
Arora worked for more than three years in the New York Police Department, Carver said. He said Arora, who was born in India, joined the Nassau County Police force to be closer to his parents, who he lives with in Queens.
