WOMAN IS SHOT BY OFFICER

New York State Police investigator critically wounded a woman yesterday in
what officials said might have been an accidental shooting when the
authorities stopped a car near Brooklyn College during a drug investigation.

State police and federal drug agents went to an apartment in Flatbush about
3 p.m. to search it and saw a male suspect leave and enter a car outside,
said Lt. Jamie Mills, a state police spokeswoman.

As investigators approached, Senior Investigator Samuel Mercado's gun went
off, Lieutenant Mills said, and a bullet struck the woman, who was inside.
Preliminary indications showed that the shooting was accidental, Lieutenant
Mills said.

The woman's role in the case was unclear. She was not identified by the
police, who said she was in critical condition at Kings County Hospital.