The NYPD continues to investigate a police-involved shooting in Brooklyn on Friday night that left a stabbing suspect seriously wounded.
The chaos unfolded just after 11:40 p.m. on March 28 when uniformed officers assigned to the 70th Precinct responded to a reported stabbing a 21 Duryea Place in East Flatbush, according to Chief of Department John Chell, who outlined the preliminary details about the case during an early morning press conference Saturday.
Upon arriving at the scene, Chell said, the officers spotted a man who suffered a slash wound to the arm as well as a second individual, a 29-year-old male, who was identified as the victim’s attacker. The perpetrator took off and the officers gave chase for roughly 2 1/2 blocks to East 21st Street off Beverley Road.
That’s where things took a more dangerous turn, the chief said.
“On this block, as our officer is chasing the perpetrator, for an unknown reason, he (the perpetrator) stops, he turns, he makes intentional multiple movements like he has a firearm, and charges at our police officer in full sprint from approximately 20 feet away,” Chell said. “At this time, our officer had to defend himself.”
The chief said the officer fired his service weapon multiple times, striking the perpetrator twice in the torso. The officer then rendered aid to the wounded perpetrator moments before EMS arrived on scene. Paramedics then rushed the individual to a local hospital, where he is listed in stable condition.
The chaos left local residents startled.
“The cops were screaming freeze, I hope they (the cops) are okay,” said one resident, Olga Restovuz. “This was super intense for a little bit.”
Another local, Mike Rampoke, compared the scene to something out of a classic television drama.
“It looks like an episode of NYPD Blue but without the film set,” he said. “I’ve never seen so many flashing lights on this block.”
Following the shooting, Chell noted, police recovered two weapons that the perpetrator allegedly possessed: a knife and a cutting instrument.
Police have not yet released the perpetrator’s identity, but Chell noted that he has an extensive criminal record — including four prior arrests, three for assault and the other for possession of a firearm. The chief added that in January, the perpetrator had been arrested in Manhattan for allegedly slashing two people with scissors.
As for the victim of the slashing that initiated the police response Friday night, Chell reported that he was also treated at a local hospital and is in stable condition.
The NYPD Force Investigation Division is conducting an inquiry into the police-involved shooting. Chell encouraged anyone who may have information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA).
