Unrest Persists Over Fatal Police Shooting In N.Y.

NEW YORK - Protests and sporadic violence - including the shooting of a police officer - erupted overnight in a part of northern Manhattan filled with tension since the fatal shooting of a resident by police.

By late yesterday, much of the heavily Dominican neighborhood of Washington Heights seemed to be heeding the mayor's call for peace. But early today, a police officer was shot in the leg outside a restaurant just north of Washington Heights, said Sgt. Ed Burns, a police spokesman.

The wounded officer, William Feliciano, 31, was listed in stable condition. Three men, including the restaurant owner, were arrested and charges were pending, Burns said.

Feliciano and other officers were driving by when they heard shots, Burns said. They stopped and went in to investigate. "It's not exactly clear what happened. A lot of shots were fired," Burns said.

The officer was among about 1,300 police sent to upper Manhattan to keep the peace last night as a wake was held for Jose Garcia, who was shot by police Friday.

The second night of violence left streets littered with shattered glass, and the wail of sirens was constant. The stench of smoke hung in the air.

Young protesters tossed bottles at the police.

Sporadic protests have erupted since Garcia, 23, was fatally shot in an apartment-building lobby during a confrontation with a police officer. A grand jury will investigate.

Mayor David Dinkins and Cardinal John O'Connor joined the Garcia family in calling for calm. "There is much anger in the community about the death of Jose Garcia and other incidents," Dinkins said. "But you do not obtain justice by being unjust to others. You do not build a better city by destroying it."

Police say Garcia was armed with a .38-caliber revolver and was shot during a struggle with police officer Michael O'Keefe.