Staten Island, NY(BN24) – An off-duty New York Police Department (NYPD) officer fatally shot a man who was reportedly pointing a fake firearm at the officer on Friday night, authorities said.
The incident occurred around 8 p.m. when a 911 call alerted authorities to a man allegedly carrying a gun behind a local diner. Assistant Chief Melissa Eger of the NYPD Patrol Borough of Staten Island confirmed that an off-duty officer later encountered the suspect, who appeared to be holding a firearm.
The off-duty officer, along with another officer, instructed the man to drop the weapon. However, instead of complying, the suspect allegedly pointed the object at the officers. Surveillance footage from the scene captured the critical moments, Eger said. In response, one of the officers fired at the man.
Following the shooting, the officers performed life-saving measures before the suspect was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. “Our officers were confronted with a dangerous and unpredictable situation, and they attempted to de-escalate the situation multiple times,” Eger stated during a press briefing.
Upon investigation, authorities discovered that the weapon the suspect was wielding was an imitation firearm. While the identity of the man was not immediately disclosed, law enforcement confirmed that he had a criminal history, although further details were not provided.
The NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau is investigating the incident, and the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under review.
