Police in Brooklyn shot a man Wednesday afternoon after he allegedly ran at them while armed with a box cutter, sources said.
According to sources familiar with the incident, detectives came across two men having an argument in front of the Brook Plaza Ambulatory Surgery Center near Utica Avenue and Avenue K in Flatlands at around 2 p.m. on March 12. The location is within the confines of the 63rd Precinct.
Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said the individual who wound up being shot had, moments earlier, thrown an object at the other man who operated a white BMW through the area.
The detectives, who were on a lunch break, confronted the two men and attempted to break up the altercation. While doing so, Kenny said, one of the detectives noticed a box cutter in the 33-year-old man’s right hand.
“The detectives gave clear and repeated verbal warnings for the subject to drop the weapon,” Kenny said. “The subject refused to comply with this directive.”
One of the detectives then moved in front of the BMW driver as the box cutter-wielding man moved around the vehicle and attempted to re-engage. Despite the numerous commands to stop and drop the weapon, Kenny noted, the subject moved to within several feet of the detective.
“The defective was forced to discharge one round from his firearm, striking the subject in his torso,” Chief Kenny said.
Immediately after firing the shot, the chief noted, the detective called for backup and EMS. Uniformed officers swiftly arrived and rendered medical aid to the wounded subject before EMS was able to transport him to Kings County Hospital.
Kenny said the individual is listed in critical condition. The detectives involved in the shooting were also taken to a local hospital for a precautionary evaluation.
The chief noted that the entire incident had been captured on nearby security cameras which police obtained during the course of the preliminary investigation.
Kenny noted that the shot individual had a prior history of mental illness and interactions with the NYPD, with three separate emergency calls between 2017 and 2018.
The case has been presented to the NYPD Force Investigation Division for further examination.
