The NYPD released body-worn camera footage from a shooting at a Brooklyn subway station where an apparent fare-beater charged at officers with a knife. Two police officers opened fire, hitting the suspect and two bystanders. One bystander, Gregory Delpeche, was critically injured and had to undergo surgery. The suspect, Derrell Mickles, pleaded not guilty to several charges, including attempted aggravated assault on a police officer. The lawyer for Mickles argued that there was disproportionate force used by the police.
Surveillance and body camera footage showed Mickles wielding a knife, refusing to drop it, and then advancing towards the officers. The officers fired multiple shots, injuring Mickles and causing chaos among passengers. The knife initially thought to be recovered was actually taken from the scene by someone else and later found during the investigation. The shooting led to protests and calls for police accountability.
Police officials defended the officers’ actions, stating that deadly force was necessary to protect themselves and passengers. Mayor Eric Adams, a former police captain, supported the officers’ decision, emphasizing the need for police discipline and de-escalation. However, police reform advocates condemned the shooting, criticizing the militarization of public spaces and the criminalization of mental illness and poverty. The incident highlighted the ongoing debate over police use of force and accountability.
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