Hammer Attack Suspect Hit With 7 Assault Charges

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Police have hit the suspect in a series of hammer attacks with felony assault charges.

David Baril, 30, was shot three times while attacking NYPD Officer Lauren O'Rourke with the claw side of the hammer after she and her partner, Officer Geraldo Casaigne, confronted him on West 37th Street and Eighth Avenue at around 10 a.m. Wednesday, police said.

NYPD Officer Lauren O'Rourke was struck in the head with a hammer at 37th Street and Eighth Avenue on Wednesday, May 13. (Credit: NYPD)

Seeing his partner being attacked, Casaigne pulled out his pistol and shot Baril. He remains in critical but stable condition at Bellevue Hospital. He was shot in the head, arm and torso, according to police.

Baril has been charged with seven counts of felony assault.

His encounter with police was caught on video:

NYPD video of shooting of hammer-wielding suspect:

NYPD Video Of Shooting Of Hammer Attack Suspect by CBS New York on YouTube

The video shows Baril chasing O'Rourke into the intersection and striking her in the head repeatedly. When she falls to the ground, Casaigne opens fire.

"Officer Casaigne quite possibly saved the life of his partner," police Commissioner Bill Bratton said. "You can see from a photo of the hammer, the suspect could have easily killed Officer O'Rourke from a blow to the head."

A sketch of a bloody hammer uploaded to Instagram by David Baril, the suspect in several hammer attacks in Manhattan. (via Instagram)

Hammer recovered at the scene of Midtown shooting on May 13, 2015 (Credit: Juliet Papa/1010 WINS)

Police stand near a man who was shot by an officer at West 37th Street and Eighth Avenue on May 13, 2015. (credit: Marla Diamond/WCBS 880)

NYPD releases side by side of surveillance image of hammer-wielding suspect and facial recognition software results (Credit: NYPD)

A mask police say a hammer-wielding suspect wore. The suspect was shot by police during a confrontation in Midtown on May 13. 2014 (Credit: NYPD)

Emergency responders render aid to the suspect shot by police on May 13, 2015. (credit: Kim Craig)

Hammer recovered at the scene of Midtown shooting. (credit: CBS2)

A hammer used in an attack on an NYPD officer on Wednesday, May 13. The hammer is also believed to have been used in four attacks on Monday, May 11. (Credit: NYPD)

Police Commissioner Bill Bratton offers update on hammer-wielding suspect shot by police in Midtown on May 13, 2015 (Credit: Marla Diamond/WCBS 880)

A hammer-wielding suspect lays on the ground after being shot by police in Midtown on May 13, 2015. (Credit: Marla Diamond/WCBS 880)

Police officers on the scene following the shooting of a hammer-wielding suspect on May 13, 2015. (Credit: Marla Diamond/WCBS 880)

Hammer recovered at the scene of Midtown shooting on May 13, 2015 (credit: Marla Diamond/WCBS 880)

Emergency responders render aid to the suspect shot by police on May 13, 2015. (credit: Kim Craig)

Police officers at 37th & 8th on May 13, 2015 after officers shot a hammer-wielding man. The hammer can be seen on the street. (credit: Juliet Papa/1010 WINS)

Police officers on the scene following the shooting of a hammer-wielding suspect on May 13, 2015. (credit: Andrea Simone)

The officers had been on the lookout for Baril since his alleged four hammer attacks Monday. Cameras captured one of the attacks on West 17th Street near Union Square.

Video shows the hooded suspect approach a woman and her boyfriend from behind. He strikes her in the back of the head and takes off running.

"This individual is not going to be roaming the streets of New York attacking innocents any longer," Bratton said.

Investigators said Baril has been diagnosed with paranoia and schizophrenia, CBS2's Ilana Gold reported.

Listen to Hammer Attack Suspect Hit With 7 Assault Charges

Baril lived in the Riverdale section of the Bronx with his family until a year ago, Gold reported.

"On his medication, the sweetest guy in the world. Off the medication, like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," said neighbor Fred Faga.

Neighbors added Baril was unstable and unpredictable, Gold reported.

"If I saw him walking towards me and I didn't know him, I would walk across the street," Faga said. "That's how intimidating he was."

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