NYC Police officer fatally shots Army reservist Noel Polanco

A 23-year-old New York City man was shot to death early Thursday morning by a police officer who was on his way to execute an arrest warrant.

Authorities said Noel Polanc0 was fatally wounded around 5:15 a.m. on the Grand Central Parkway near LaGuardia Airport in Queens.

Officers in two Emergency Service Unit vehicles were on their way to execute a warrant when they observed a  2012 Honda Fit Hybrid weaving in and out of traffic.

The officers pulled over the vehicle, which was being driven by Polanc0, and as Det. Hassan Hamdy approached the car he ordered Polanco to show his hands.

Authorities said at that moment Polanco, who was in the Army National Guard, reached for something under his seat and Officer Hamby fired the fatal shot into Polanco’s side.

Police later discovered that the only thing that was under Polanco’s seat was a screwdriver.

Polance was rushed to New York Hospital of Queens, where he died around 6:00 a.m.

There are reports that one of the two passengers in the vehicle was off-duty officer Vanessa Rodriguez.  Officer Rodriguez, who is assigned to the 102nd Precinct station house in Richmond Hill, Queens, told authorities she was asleep in the back of Polanco’s car when the incident occurred, but after she was awoken by the shooting she quickly identified herself as an officer.