Man Killed By Cops After Allegedly Threatening Police And Pedestrians With A Knife In Midtown
NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- A man was shot and killed by police after he charged at them with a knife, according to authorities.
A thirty-year-old was smoking a joint in front of the Armed Forces Recruiting Center in Times Square on Saturday afternoon when he was approached by police and asked to provide identification. Instead of identifying himself the man donned a blue bandana, pulled out an 11-inch carving knife threatened the responding officers and took off running down 7th Ave, according to police.
Police were able to catch up to the man in front of 501 7th Ave, near the corner of 38th street. The man attempted to hold off police by brandishing the knife and "dancing in the street", according to witnesses.
1010 WINS reporter Gary Baumgarten reports...
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Shocked witnesses told 1010 WINS reporter Gary Baumgarten that the shooting sparked a frantic search for cover.
"I hit the ground to avoid gunfire, and to pray,"said one woman.
Police attempted to pepper spray the man on six separate occasions but he refused to go down and continued to threaten police with the knife, according to authorities.
Eventually the man lunged at police and was shot in the torso by two of the responding officers, police said.
Two officers were taken to the hospital and treated for tinnitus and a third was treated for eye irritation as a result of being exposed to pepper spray.
The man was taken to Bellevue Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Where you anywhere near Times Square during the chase or the shooting? Share your experience in our comments section below...
