The NYPD has initiated an investigation into a shooting at a Brooklyn subway station that left one officer and two bystanders injured.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday afternoon at the Sutter Avenue L train station, involved a case of “friendly fire” during a confrontation between police and a fare evasion suspect.
The two officers involved in the shooting, whose names have not been disclosed, remain on active duty while the Force Investigation Division reviews the incident. According to the NYPD, there has been no change to the officers’ duty status during the ongoing investigation.
The shooting unfolded around 3 p.m. when officers responded to a report of a man, identified by sources as 37-year-old Derrell Mickles, who allegedly jumped a turnstile. Mickles, who reportedly threatened the officers and brandished a knife, was pursued onto the platform. After unsuccessful attempts to subdue him with Tasers, the officers fired their weapons, hitting Mickles and unintentionally injuring a police officer and two bystanders. The officer was struck in the armpit, and one of the bystanders was grazed by a bullet. All are expected to survive their injuries.
Complicating matters, police are now searching for an individual who allegedly stole the knife involved in the incident. The knife was taken from the scene about 30 minutes after the shooting, and the NYPD has released a wanted poster for the suspect described as wearing a light blue baseball cap, a patterned long sleeve shirt, and blue jeans.
The shooting has drawn criticism from various quarters, with some questioning the necessity and proportionality of the response to the fare evasion. Critics argue that the use of lethal force in such a scenario was excessive, especially given the confined space of the subway station.
City officials and transit authorities have emphasized efforts to enhance safety in the transit system and reduce crime, including aggressive fare enforcement. However, civil rights advocates contend that the approach can escalate situations unnecessarily and put lives at risk.
With input from New York Post, the New York Time, Gothamist.
