Two New York Police Department sergeants who were struck by the same bullet while responding to a robbery in Manhattan were promoted to special assignment sergeants at a ceremony Friday, where Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch called them “the very best.”
Sergeants Christopher Leap, 35, and Carl Johnson, 44, were shot on Aug. 1, 2024, after responding separately to reports of a suspected gang member who had allegedly robbed several women inside a Lower East Side mahjong parlor. The pair were promoted just over a year after the shooting.
Police said the officers quickly became engaged with the suspect during the response and that a struggle ensued. Joshua Dorsett, whom authorities described as a member of the area gang known as Up the Hill, allegedly fired a single shot that struck Johnson in the groin, passed through him and then struck Leap in the leg.
Dorsett is facing charges including assault, robbery and criminal possession. Authorities have said the shooting followed allegations that the suspect had robbed several women inside the mahjong parlor; officials have linked the suspect to the Up the Hill gang, which has previously been associated with crime in the neighborhood.
At the promotions ceremony, Johnson told reporters, “I say we’re blood brothers now,” and noted that the two men had not known each other before the Aug. 1 incident. Commissioner Tisch praised both officers during the event.
The promotions elevate Leap and Johnson to special assignment sergeants, a rank that carries varied responsibilities including oversight of specialized units and assignments within the department. Department officials said the advancement came as part of the city’s ongoing personnel decisions following the officers’ injuries last year.
The shooting touched off an investigation into the robbery and the suspect’s alleged gang ties. Dorsett’s case remains pending in the criminal justice system, and prosecutors may pursue additional charges as their inquiry continues.
The NYPD has not released further disciplinary or personnel details related to the promotions. The department continues to investigate incidents tied to robbery and gang activity in Manhattan as part of broader public-safety efforts.