The career criminal accused of shooting two Bronx cops within 12 hours had a run-in with officers the night before the rampage began — at the same intersection, police sources said Monday.

Robert Williams, 45, approached two cops sitting in a marked NYPD van at East 163rd and Fox streets on Friday night and got in their faces, sources told The Post.

The officers repeatedly ordered Williams to back up, and he eventually walked away without further incident, according to sources.

He didn’t flash a weapon during the bizarre run-in, and it’s unclear if he intended or was prepared to carry out an attack that night, sources said.

But about 24 hours later, Williams returned to the intersection, approached the van and asked two cops — different from those he encountered on Friday night — seated inside for directions, sources have said.

He then allegedly opened fire without provocation, hitting one cop in the neck and chin, nearly nicking his carotid artery, according to authorities.

Less than 12 hours after that, Williams allegedly shot up the nearby 41st Precinct station-house, striking a lieutenant in the upper left arm before running out of ammo and surrendering, police said.

He was formally charged on Monday with 13 counts of attempted murder in Bronx criminal court.