NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – A suspected armed robber fired several shots at NOPD officers last night before being apprehended.

NOPD officers from the First and Fifth District, who are part of a task force designed to track down armed robbery suspects, responded to a call of an armed robbery in the 1400 block of North Derbigny Street around 11 p.m.

Twenty-year-old Dequest McDowell, who matched the description of the armed robber the officers were looking for, ran as soon as he saw the responding officers.

As they followed McDowell in their police cruisers, McDowell fired multiple gunshots at the officers, striking two of the vehicles, according to a statement by the NOPD.

The shots missed the officers, who did not return fire. After a foot chase, officers found McDowell hiding under a boat on a trailer in the 1600 block of North Tonti Street. He was arrested without further incident.

In addition to the items taken in the armed robbery on North Derbigny, officers recovered the silver and black 9 mm handgun that they believe McDowell used in the incident and to shoot at officers. The victim of the armed robbery positively identified McDowell as the suspect.

Detectives believe McDowell may be responsible for multiple armed robberies recently reported in the area. Those investigations are ongoing.

“We are serious about taking violent criminals off the street,” NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison said. “Because of our strong and thorough investigation, we were able to put the resources right where they needed to be to quickly respond to this incident and prevent more crime from happening. I am committed to smartly deploying our resources to track down and arrest the individuals who choose to commit violent crime.”