Nassau Cop From Babylon Village Shot Dead

This story was updated at 4:33 p.m. on Oct. 23.

A Nassau County police officer was fatally shot near the Cross Island Parkway in Bellerose Terrace Tuesday morning.

The officer has been identified as Babylon Village resident Arthur Lopez, an eight-year veteran of the force, Newsday [paid link] reported. A moment of silence was held during the Babylon Town board meeting earlier today, where Supervisor Rich Schaffer confirmed Lopez's death.

According to the New York Post, Lopez, a member of the Emergency Services Unit, was shot near the Cross Island Parkway and Jamaica Avenue in the vicinity of the Belmont Racetrack.

One suspect was believed to be shot by police and the other was still on the run.

Nassau County Police officials have not confirmed whether a second body found was a suspect.

A law enforcement official told the Wall Street Journal that "the officer had pulled a car over at about 11:10 a.m. at the entrance ramp to the parkway at 241st Street and Jamaica Avenue."

Multiple reports have stated that Lopez was airlifted to North Shore Long Island Jewish Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to Long Island Neighborhood Crime Stoppers, police are still searching for a suspect. The suspect is described as a black male, large build, mid 20s, wearing khaki pants and a white t shirt. He discarded a grey sweatshirt near 113th Drive and 223rd Street, where blood was also found.

The shooting comes less than one week after Nassau County Highway Patrol officer Joseph P. Olivieri was struck and killed while investigating a motor vehicle accident on the Long Island Expressway. He was laid to rest Monday.

According to the New York State Department of Transportation, the shooting has closed the Cross Island Parkway both north and southbound near Jamaica Avenue.

This is a breaking news story. Patch will provide more details when they are made available.

Ryan Bonner contributed to this story.