NYPD: 2 officers, 3 other people shot _ 1 fatally _ in northern Manhattan

Police: 2 officers, 3 other people shot in NYC

NEW YORK — An argument at a block party escalated into an exchange of gunfire early Sunday, authorities said, killing one man and wounding four, including two police officers.

Two men began arguing around 3 a.m. in upper Manhattan, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said. He said one of the men fatally shot the other, then fired at the five police officers who had arrived at the scene.

Four of the officers fired back, wounding the man, Kelly said. He was hospitalized.

Two of the officers were shot. One officer, Michael Tedeschi, was hit in the chest but was wearing a bullet-resistant vest. The other officer, Alfredo Vargas, was grazed in the hand. Both are expected to be fine, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said.

Two other people were hospitalized for gunshot wounds but their conditions weren’t available. Two other police officers were hurt, though not seriously.

Police had cordoned off the area with yellow tape and residents out and about later Sunday stopped to take a look before going on their way.

“Nothing like this has happened here in years. It’s very unusual,” said James White, a yoga instructor who lives in the area.