Fleeing bank robbers try to carjack cop

NEW YORK, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Masked bank robbers attempting to flee a New York bank they robbed ran out and tried to hijack a car -- which was driven by an off-duty police officer.

The New York Daily News reported that the armed robbers were attempting to flee Saturday and found themselves in a gunfight after attempting to steal off-duty police officer John Lopez's vehicle.

Lopez, who chased the thieves, had been in his car with his wife, mother-in-law and infant son at the time of the attempted theft.

After being fired on by one of the robbers, who were carrying $15,000 in stolen cash, Lopez returned fire and shot one of the bandits in the stomach and leg, the Daily News said. Lopez was shot in the thigh.

After reinforcements helped arrest the two suspected thieves, Joseph Pennington and Dion Mines, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg credited Lopez's heroism.

"These career criminals ran into the wrong guy," Mayor Bloomberg told the Daily News. "(The suspects) shot at the wrong person and God happened to protect him."