2 Officers Slain in Car; Inmate Sought

NEW YORK — A Murder defendant being driven to jail on a busy highway Monday pulled out a gun and fired from the back seat at two police detectives, killing them both, authorities said.

The prisoner, identified as Stoney Harrison, 25, ran from the scene and remained at large, Police Commissioner Richard Condon said.

Detectives Keith L. Williams, 34, of New York City and Richard J. Guerzon, 46, of Merrick, were killed, police Sgt. Raymond O’Donnell said. He said it was the first double slaying of city police officers in more than 11 years.

The detectives had driven Harrison from the Rikers Island jail to the Queens district attorney’s office for a lie detector test and discussion of a plea bargain, police said. They were returning him to Rikers when the shooting occurred. Police said it was unclear how Harrison had obtained a gun.