News briefs

An armed man demanding media attention took a pregnant employee
from the Mexican consulate as a hostage Tuesday and was shot on a
sidewalk, critically wounded by police. The woman was rescued,
unharmed.

Officers responding to a report of a kidnapping in progress
confronted a suspect at about 8:30 a.m. outside the consulate, and
shots were fired, Sgt. Catherine Plows said.

The suspect, apparently shot in the head by police, was taken to
a hospital where he was listed in critical condition, police
Assistant Chief George Gascon said.

“˜”˜Motive, at this time, we just do not know. We
haven’t been able to converse with the suspect,”
Police Chief William Bratton said during a press conference.
“˜”˜The information that we have is that his demands were
to the effect, “˜Call 911. I want the media here.’
Whatever his interests were in his having the media respond to the
consulate, we just don’t know at this time.”