The bullet that struck NYPD cop Sherrod Stuart last week during a shootout with a Bronx gang-banger was fired by another officer, police revealed Monday.
Stuart and his fellow cops were responding to multiple 911 calls after a fight spilled out of an unlicensed nightclub and onto Third Avenue in Mott Haven around 2 a.m. Saturday.
The cops found the combatants armed with guns, knives and bats, and perp Christopher Rice, 19, opened fire on the officers.
It had been believed that one of Rice’s bullets struck Stuart in the right ankle, but the slug was actually friendly fire, police said.
Stuart returned fire, striking Rice four times.
Doctors removed the bullet from Stuart’s leg, and he is expected to recover.
Rice is also recovering from his injuries at another hospital. He is still set to face charges of attempting to murder a cop, sources said.