police were trying to ab due an agitated man who was darting through traffic. >> oh, my god! go, go, go! get down! get down! >> reporter: crowds panic as new york police officers fired three shots missing their target and hitting two bystanders instead. both were women. one took a bullet in the right leg and the other was grazed in her backside. >> don't shoot no more! >> reporter: witnesses say police were chasing a man who looked confused. >> the guy was like wantedering in the street like he was lost and he's a pretty big guy. there was one officer that was trying to get him to come out of the middle of traffic and he -- i don't know. it looked like he was on something. >> reporter: police say it looked like the man wanted to be struck by traffic, but then they say he intended to point a weapon at officers. >> he continued to elude the officers and they, at some time, he reached into his pocket and took out his hand and simulated as if he was shooting at them.