NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A pair of NYPD officers shot and killed a man police officials described as “emotionally disturbed” in Brooklyn early Sunday morning after he tapped on their window and displayed two knives.
“There is no job in the New York City Police Department that is routine. The cops have to be constantly aware of the dangers around them,” NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said at a press conference at the Bushwick scene.
“When it comes to emotionally disturbed people, we do everything we can to deescalate, but sometimes it doesn’t work out the way we want it to,” Chell continued.
Two uniformed police officers were finishing a family domestic violence call and sitting in their police car at 2:20 a.m. in front of 155 Eldert St., near Central Avenue in Bushwick, authorities said.
A 26-year-old man approached and tapped and hit the car to get the officers’ attention, Chell said. As the cops stepped out of the car, they observed the man holding two knives.
When verbal deescalation did not work, the two officers deployed their tasers.
“The tasers worked the first time, the male fell to the ground, he dropped one of his knives,” Chell said. “He was able to get up with the second knife, and did not listen to their warnings of ‘stop’ and charged toward the officers.”
Both officers fired their weapons, striking the man several times. The 26-year-old was removed to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
The officers were also taken to a hospital for evaluation.
The incident is still under investigation.
“Very tough night for these two officers and for the family of the EDP and the EDP,” Chell said.