An off-duty NYPD sergeant shot a man once during an apparent attempted robbery in the Bronx early Monday.

Police say the Housing sergeant was going home following his shift when he was mugged by three men at East 178 Street and Creston Avenue in the Tremont just after 4 a.m.

According to a statement from the NYPD, On Monday, January 18, 2016 at 3:54AM, Police responded to a 911 call of an officer in need of assistance at Creston Avenue and East 179th Street within the confines of the 46th Precinct.

Upon arrival, police determined that moments earlier, three males approached an off-duty NYPD sergeant at the corner of East 178th Street and Creston Avenue and robbed him of his cellphone at knifepoint.

During the course of the robbery the sergeant’s shield was discovered by the suspects. At this time a suspect stated in Spanish, “shoot him, shoot him”, with a firearm being displayed by one of the three suspects. The sergeant drew his authorized off-duty firearm and discharged his weapon, striking one of the suspects in the torso.

The two other suspects fled on foot.

The outstanding suspects are described as both male Hispanics in their twenties, one wearing a red sweater armed with a firearm and the second male Hispanic wearing a black jacket armed with a knife.

The off-duty sergeant was transported to Jacobi Hospital for evaluation and the 18-year-old wounded suspect was taken to Saint Barnabas Hospital in stable condition.

Two knives were recovered from the hospitalized suspect and charges are pending.

The investigation is ongoing.

(Dov Gefen – YWN)