An off-duty NYPD lieutenant is in critical condition and a suspect is dead after exchanging gunfire outside of a Queens nightclub.

The off-duty lieutenant had gone to a club in the area of 57th Street and Northern Boulevard shortly after getting off work, Commissioner Dermot Shea says in a press briefing.

When he was leaving, police believe he was confronted by several armed suspects wearing ski masks who were trying to rob him of his jewelry.

Gunfire was then exchanged between the officer and at least one suspect, Shea says. Responding paramedics found both men on the ground suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

A semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine was recovered by police in the vicinity of where the suspect was found.

The off-duty officer is in critical but stable condition at Elmhurst General Hospital. The suspect, who has not been identified, was pronounced dead shortly after 3:30 a.m. at the same hospital after suffering gunshot wounds to the chest and stomach.

The suspect has one prior arrest from last year in New York City for an active gang assault case, Shea says. It is unknown if he has an arrest record outside of the city.

The remaining suspects fled the scene, possibly in a vehicle, police say.

Shea says there has been a citywide pattern of individuals who go to nightclubs wearing jewelry being targeted by robbers as they leave, though Shea did not say if these particular suspects are connected to any other robbery incidents.