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Matthew Felix, of Cambria Heights, Queens, was shot around 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 25, as he fled from Nassau County police who had tracked him to his home where the stolen vehicle was found, Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said.
During a press conference, Ryder said Felix had arranged on social media to buy a Mercedes from another person and set up a meeting in Garden City.
Once the two met, Felix allegedly pulled out a black handgun and held it to the head of the seller and told him to get out the vehicle.
He then drove the vehicle to his home in Cambria Heights, police said.
Nassau County detectives were able to track the Mercedes to Felix's home in Cambria Heights, Ryder said.
While surveilling the house, Felix came out and got into another vehicle and drove away, police said.
That when special operations officers on the scene, attempted to pull Felix over. During that time period Felix was shot by police gunfire and crashed into a building, Ryder said.
Ryder said officers identified themselves and were wearing their vests and shields when Felix exited the home and got into the other vehicle.
"Our officers were faced with circumstances that led them to have to take deadly physical force," he said.
Information was not provided regarding what happened between the time Felix left his home and the time he was shot. Ryder also did not reveal if Felix was armed at the time of the shooting.
Felix has prior arrests dating back to 2016 that included charges of fleeing from a police officer in a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, and possession of a gun, police said.
Following the incident, Ryder said four police officers were treated for trauma.
This is a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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