WaPo update yesterday said 3 bystanders received direct gunshot wounds and were in hospitals. Two victims had bullets removed by surgery. By inference it appears one victim had a through or grazing wound.
Flower pots were downrange....The problem was ammo that bounced off of them.
The photos at the Fifth Ave and 34th show that the NYPD reference "flower pots" were large green concrete tree planters approx. 3' high x 3' diam, usually weighing several hundred pounds.
The problem was that the two cops from a distance of 8 to 10 feet from the shooter managed to hit him with ten shots...in the arms, legs, and chest and missed 6 times with at least three of those misses directly striking by standers and the remaining richocheting off the curved tree planters, concrete sidewalks, and the hard granite building base.
The real surprise is that more bystanders weren't hit
There were fewer than 10 hits. Some of the perp's wounds were exit wounds, which leads to the problem: ball ammo. Over penetrates, exits the target, and by the time he realizes he's been hit, the cops have fired another dozen rounds in his general direction.
Jacketed Hollow Point was what they needed.