Young off-duty cop is shot in the head while accompanying his brother to buy a car

A 26-year-old NYPD officer was shot in the head while accompanying his brother to buy a car off Facebook Marketplace. 

The father of two, who has not been publicly identified, was left in critical condition after the shootout occurred in Brooklyn on Saturday around 7pm. 

Officials claimed the social media car advertisement was planned to stage a robbery. When the officer and his brother arrived at the scene, the suspect immediately pulled out his firearm - which the officer followed. 

Gunfire was exchanged leading the officer to be critically wounded while the suspect fled the scene.  

'We will catch the person responsible for this act,' New York City Mayor Eric Adams said at a press conference late Saturday. 

An off-duty cop, 26, was shot in the head while buying a car in Brooklyn. The officer was accompanying his brother when the incident unfolded

Mayor Eric Adams pointed the blame at illegal guns in the hands of 'bad people'

The officer's brother was uninjured, but sources told The New York Post he picked up the cop's gun once he collapsed and fired several rounds as the suspect ran off. 

'An officer conducting a simple errand and a dangerous person pulled out a firearm,' Adams said.

One witness called 911 after watching the suspect as he fired at someone in the distance. 

'I saw a person wearing a black hoodie, black top, and gray sweats shooting like he was ducking in front of a car outside my house,' a resident told The Post. 'It looked like he was shooting back and forth at someone.'

'[He] kept shooting… After the last shot, I saw him running towards McDonald's and I looked away.' 

The nearby resident didn't know anyone was injured until she saw an ambulance and stretcher. 

The cop is a five-year veteran of the NYPD. The New York Police Department wasn't immediately available for an update on the officer's condition or identity as of Sunday morning.

The officer's brother was uninjured, but sources told The New York Post he picked up the cop's gun once he collapsed and fired several rounds as the suspect ran off. Pictured: Investigators at the scene of the crime

One witness called 911 after watching the suspect as he fired at someone in the distance

The nearby resident didn't know anyone was injured until she saw an ambulance and stretcher

Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell (above) shared her disappointment that the shooting occurred weeks after another officer was shot in Brooklyn by a teenager

Adams is convinced officers will find the suspect and bashed the number of illegally owned guns in the city.

'As we see so far, and so often in the city, too many illegal guns are in the hands of bad people and doing bad things,' Adams said adding he spoke to the officer heartbroken wife.

The shooting occurred weeks after another officer was shot in Brooklyn by a teenager.

'We are at a hospital once again, awaiting news - This time for an off-duty NYPD officer, Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said at the news conference.  'This appears to be an attempted robbery.' 

On January 17, NYPD officer Paul Lee was shot while in an unmarked car on Prospect Avenue and East 183rd Street. 

Lee was with a fellow officer when they approached two teenagers. 

The boys instantly ran away from the officers until one of the teenagers turned back and fired six shots - with one landing in the arm of Lee who was in the passenger seat. 

Despite being shot, Lee and the other officer, who wasn't injured, ran to chase down the teenagers. The 16-year-old gunman was arrested and Lee was released from the hospital the same day. 

Paul Lee, New York police officer, was shot in the arm by a teenager in the Bronx. Lee was shot at 3am on January 17 while in an unmarked police car

A 16-year-old with an extensive criminal record was detained for shooting a police officer in the arm. His name has not been released