A 22-year-old man was killed and six others – including two New York City Police Department officers – were wounded when gunfire erupted in Harlem early Sunday morning.

Investigators say Angel Alvarez, 23, shot and killed Luis Soto, 22, at around 3 a.m. at 144th Street and Lenox Avenue.

Police say the two got in a fight over a woman after a block party attended by about 200 people.

"It was chaos, straight chaos," said one witness.

When officers arrived on the scene, police say Alvarez began firing at them. Police returned fire and the violence escalated.

"Four of the five officers fired, striking Alvarez several times,” said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.

Alvarez is said to be in critical condition at the hospital, but is expected to survive.

"We know over 40 bullets were fired by officers," said Kelly. "There are other bullet casings at the scene that do not match up to Police Department ammunition. The assailant in this case used a revolver which, obviously, the rounds are not ejected from the revolver."

During the exchange of fire, Officer Michael Tedeschi, 36, was accidentally shot in his bullet-resistence vest by a fellow officer. Tedeschi, a father of four, is being treated at NewYork-Presbyterian Columbia Hospital. He will likely be released today.

"He owes his life to the bullet-resistant vest he was wearing on duty this morning," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. "And a young man in our city who somehow lost his way, but somehow found an illegal 38-caliber revolver awaits the criminal justice system."

Another officer, Alfredo Vargas, 28, was grazed in the hand. He was treated and released.

Police recovered a 38-caliber revolver from the scene. They believe it belongs to Alvarez.

But his family disputes the NYPD’s account, and is questioning why police fired at him 21 times.

"I'm devastated. I'm shocked and I'm hurt," said Alvarez's sister Christine Creer.

"The police are well within their rights to fire upon someone if they're being fired upon," said Alvarez's attorney John Carney. "We don't know whether Mr. Alvarez had a weapon. We don't know whether or not he was the shooter."

Alvarez was set to be arraigned in the hospital.

Three other people were shot and wounded.

The mayor is commending the officers' actions.

"Thank God for the NYPD, whose [officers are] willing to put their lives in line of fire to keep us safe," said Bloomberg.

Police are interviewing witnesses and analyzing surveillance video from the scene.