NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A man succumbed to his injuries after he was shot by police in Queens early Saturday morning when patrolling officers discovered him holding a woman at knifepoint.
Just after 4 a.m. at the corner of 103rd Street and Roosevelt Avenue in Corona, two officers assigned to patrol the area became aware of a dispute across the street, NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said at a press conference Saturday.
“The officers are here, you know, Roosevelt Avenue, heavy nightlife. We have seen some upticks in crime, so we have a contingent of officers who work out here at night to keep people safe,” Maddrey said.
Police said that the officers heard screams before approaching a 65-year-old man holding a knife to a woman.
“The officers give commands to the male to drop the knife, repeated commands. The male doesn’t listen, the officers use the taser,” Maddrey said. “The taser does not work. The officer gives further commands and then discharged their weapons, which stops the male.”
Officers fired at least three shots, striking the man several times.
He was transported to NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst in critical condition before dying of his injuries.
The woman was physically uninjured, and the two officers involved were taken to an area hospital for evaluation, police said.
The relationship between the man and the woman is unknown.
An investigation into the incident is underway by the NYPD’s Force Investigation Division and Queens detectives.