NYPD officers shoot man who pointed pellet gun at them in Brooklyn, police say

A man was shot by police after he pointed a pellet gun at them, the NYPD said. Photo Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

NYPD officers shot a man who pointed a pellet gun at them after they pulled him over for veering in and out of traffic in East New York Wednesday night, police said.

The man was driving "in an erratic manner," and his Toyota Camry did not have the headlights on in East New York shortly after 6 p.m., Chief of Patrol Rodney Harrison said. He initially did not stop when three officers in an unmarked vehicle put on the lights and sirens, but then came to an abrupt stop on Van Siclen Avenue, near New Lots Avenue.

The man then got out of the car and pointed what was later determined to be a pellet gun at the officers, Harrison said.

Two of the officers fired at the man, striking him three times.

The man was taken to Brookdale Hospital Medical Center in critical condition. His gun was recovered from the scene.