NYPD officers fatally shoot man who charged at them with knife, police say
NEW YORK -- Police say NYPD officers fatally shot a man who charged at them with a knife in Queens on Friday.
It happened at an apartment building near 102nd Street and 62nd Avenue in Rego Park just before 7 p.m.
Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey says four NYPD members -- including two officers and a sergeant -- were responding to a report of an assault on the second floor of the building.
Police say as they exited the staircase, they saw a 46-year-old man armed with a knife. They yelled at the man to drop his weapon, but the man then allegedly charged at the officers.
Maddrey says the sergeant discharged his Taser as the two officers fired approximately four shots at the man, striking him.
Officers then began life-saving measures. The man was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police say witnesses told investigators there was a family gathering happening in a second-floor apartment when there was some kind of a dispute.
"I'm surprised to hear this kind of crime happen in this neighborhood because I've been living in this neighborhood over 20 years and this is the second time I heard a crime," neighbor Yasemin Demirci said. "Everyone is [on] edge, maybe it's just like the pandemic opened a door for them to come out and hurt someone that they love or who is close to them."
According to police, surveillance footage shows a woman leave the apartment holding her stomach, followed a male who tries to hold the door. The 46-year-old man is then seen leaving the apartment armed with the knife.
"We see a female exit an apartment. She's holding her stomach. She's bleeding from the stomach. We see another male family member or friend try to hold the door, and then we see a male exit with the knife," Maddrey told reporters. "These situations are fast-paced and dynamic. Our officers, they knew they were responding to a 34, assault. As soon as they walk out the staircase, a male is charging at them with a knife. They give commands to drop. The male didn't stop. The sergeant tried to use his Taser but two of the officers, they fired their weapon."
Police say they believe there were children present at the gathering.
Maddrey said the woman suffered at least two stab wounds to the stomach and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. She was in critical condition Saturday.
The officers were also sent to the hospital to be checked out.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anytime an NYPD officer discharges their weapon, the department begins an internal use of force investigation to determine if the shooting was justified.
