‘SHOOTER’ NAILED
Queens suspect wanted to 'kill gov'
NYPD officers Saturday evening shot and killed a Queens man who was threatening to kill the governor and other top officials, saying he was going to “blow up” the world, cops and sources said.
Police arrived at 205-17 116th Ave. in Cambria Heights shortly after 6 p.m. after receiving multiple threatening 911 calls from the man, identified by sources as Raul Hardy.
Hardy, 60, said he would “change the government” by assassinating Gov. Hochul and the “PD Chief,” and also threatened to “blow up” the world, according to the sources.
“He clearly stated that he was going to blow the head off of the first police officers that he saw,” NYPD Chief of Patrol Jeffrey Maddrey said at a news conference at the scene.
“A short time later, he made another 911 call and he basically reiterated the same thing.”
A large group of uniformed officers responded to the call, parked down the street and walked to Hardy’s house with guns drawn, Maddrey said.
The suspect emerged from the house, answered when police called his name and refused to show his hands and cooperate with their instructions, according to officials.
Hardy then opened fire on the officers, prompting six cops to fire back, police said.
“There was a high volume of rounds fired tonight, probably north of 100,” Maddrey said.
After gunning down Hardy, police tried to perform CPR and administer lifesaving measures, according to Maddrey. The suspect was pronounced dead at a hospital.
A Hardy cousin told The Post he came to the crime scene after getting a call from another relative who warned that his aunt was in trouble.
Hardy’s “cousin in Washington called me. He told me to go over to my aunt’s house because we think [Hardy] was possibly shot,” said Brian Ware, 56.
Hardy, who sources said has multiple prior domestic-incident arrests, did landscaping work, according to his cousin.
No officers were wounded, police said. “This is the danger, the inherent danger that members of this department face, Maddrey said, adding that cops “unfortunately” had to use their weapons.