Police Open Fire, Arrest Man Threatening People With Stolen Kitchen Knives In Lower Manhattan
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- An emotionally disturbed man wielding kitchen knives was taken into custody after he was stunned by police Friday morning.
As CBS2's Thalia Perez reports, police say the suspect took the two knives from the kitchen at Ruby's Cafe in SoHo. Workers told Perez the suspect approached the hostess desk and then marched right into the kitchen of the restaurant, grabbed the knives, and fled
Police recovered the knives after the 24-year-old suspect was taken into custody. Chopper 2 was over the scene around 9 a.m. as police responded to the area of 180 Bowery.
Police say the suspect stole the the knives from the cafe, then walked the streets of NoHo brandishing the weapons, and menacing people with one knife in each hand.
"He has a hood on, and he's coming really fast, and he's running. He has two butcher knives and he's running this way," said Kim Kalesti.
Kalesti says she was sitting at nearby cafe when she saw the armed man walk by.
Police say the suspect lunged at at least one person, but didn't hurt anyone, before leading officers on a chase.
"And then about a half block later there was like maybe 10 cops," Kalesti said. "And he turned the corner and then we heard a gunshot... just another day in New York."
Officers stunned the suspect and ordered him to drop the knives, and when he didn't, an officer fired a round, police said. No one was hit.
Back at Ruby's Cafe, it was business as usual with a bustling crowd.
"Every day there's something scary happening over here," said Mileena Rodriguez.
Again, no one was hurt.
The suspect was taken into custody and brought to Bellevue Hospital.
CBS2's Thalia Perez contributed to this report.
