Demonstrations spark following NYPD's lethal shooting of a person wielding a knife, which additionally wounded 2 innocent bystanders.
Four individuals were wounded in a Sunday event that commenced when an individual leaped over the subway toll gate – avoiding the $2.90 charge – in front of two transit security personnel stationed at the Brooklyn subway entrance.
Authorities divulge that the two officers pursued Derrell Mickles, 37, onto the subway platform, where they then clashed with the individual brandishing a knife and repeatedly instructed him to abandon his weapon before the situation escalated as Mickles refused to comply.
In edited and disclosed by the NYPD on Friday, surveillance and bodycam footage of the incident, a man dubbed as Mickles, is shown entering a subway train car during the confrontation in a bid to evade police. The officers unsuccessfully discharged their tasers before pursuing him back onto the subway platform.
Following a short chase along the subway platform, Mickles found himself trapped, flanked by twin officers. His sudden halt was followed by video footage displaying the officers firing their weapons numerous times in his direction, resulting in Mickles collapsing into the subway car.
Police assert that the officers only opened fire once Mickles lunged at them.
“Officers made efforts to diffuse the situation by urging the suspect to relinquish the knife over 30 times and deployed tasers thrice, all in vain,” remarked NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry in a social media post.
According to police, two bystanders and an officer were also hit by gunfire during the incident, with one bystander suffering a stray bullet wound to the head.
Mickles was apprehended and charged with aggravated assault against a police officer bearing a lethal weapon, among other allegations. He appeared in court on Friday and proclaimed his innocence.
CNN contacted an attorney representing Mickles for comment.
Unrelated to fare evasion, police assert
“This episode was not connected to fare evasion,” asserted NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell to reporters at a press conference on Wednesday. “This episode was instigated by a person experiencing mental distress armed with a lethal weapon and shielding our cops and passengers on the train.”
Critics of the police's excessive force and protesters, including New York City public advocacy group Legal Aid Society, dissent with this assertion.
The Legal Aid Society expresses concern over the surveillance and body-worn camera footage, claiming it “dramatically obscures the entire NYPD incident” and “contradicts the Department’s declaration that (Derrell) Mickles ‘charged’ at one of the officers.”
“As evidenced by the video, Mr. Mickles remained stationary while NYPD personnel launched their firearms at him,” the Legal Aid Society's statement stated.
Despite the NYPD claiming that Derrell Micklescharged at an officer, the Legal Aid Society, in their analysis of the video evidence, pointed out that Mickles remained stationary during the incident. The New York City public advocacy group further criticized the police's use of excessive force, implying that Mickles and the US (the officers) could have handled the situation differently.
