September 22nd 2024.
This past week, a heated situation unfolded on the streets of New York City as the NYPD released footage from a body camera showing a police shooting involving a fare-evader armed with a knife. The incident, which occurred on September 15th, has drawn heavy criticism from the public.
It all began when a man, identified as Derrell Mickles, jumped the subway turnstile in front of two transit patrol officers at a Brooklyn subway station. Mickles was trying to evade the $2.90 fare and was carrying a knife. He was asked to leave but instead, he exited through the turnstile and re-entered through the emergency gate.
The two officers then pursued Mickles onto the subway platform where they confronted him and repeatedly ordered him to drop his knife. However, Mickles refused to comply and a confrontation ensued. In a video released by the NYPD, Mickles can be seen entering a subway train car in an apparent attempt to escape the officers. But he is quickly cornered and charged at by the officers, who then discharge their weapons multiple times. Mickles falls to the ground inside the subway car.
According to the NYPD, the officers only fired their weapons after Mickles charged at them. In a post on social media, NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry stated that the officers had tried to de-escalate the situation by asking Mickles to drop the knife over 30 times and even deploying tasers, but to no avail.
Unfortunately, two bystanders and one officer were also struck by gunfire during the incident. One of the bystanders was hit in the head by a stray bullet and is currently in critical condition. Mickles was arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon and other charges. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment from his hospital bed.
Despite the NYPD's claims that the incident was not about fare evasion, but rather about a person in mental distress carrying a deadly weapon, there are those who disagree. Public advocates and some New York City residents who have been protesting the police's use of force believe that the situation could have been handled differently.
In a statement, the Legal Aid Society, a public advocacy group, said that the footage released by the NYPD does not capture the entire incident and contradicts their claim that Mickles charged at the officers. They believe that Mickles was standing still when the officers fired their weapons.
This incident has sparked a debate about the use of force by police officers and the need for better training in handling situations involving individuals in mental distress. As more details emerge, it is clear that this is a complex and sensitive issue that requires careful consideration.
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