NYPD cops fatally shoot scissor-wielding 19-year-old as city mourns Officer Jonathan Dillon's murder
QUEENS, NEW YORK: While mourning the tragic death of Officer Jonathan Diller, New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers were involved in another fatal shooting, this time of a 19-year-old armed with scissors in Queens.
The incident unfolded on Wednesday, March 27, afternoon in the Ozone Park neighborhood of New York City. Authorities revealed that the 19-year-old's mother had called 911, expressing concerns about her son's "mental crisis" and erratic behavior. "The situation became quite hectic, chaotic and dangerous right away," said NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell.
Insights into the fatal confrontation
Upon arrival, officers attempted to restrain the young man to "get him help," but he resisted and retrieved a pair of scissors from a drawer. Despite attempts to subdue him with tasers, which were briefly effective until the suspect's mother inadvertently dislodged them, the situation escalated.
"But a mother, being a mother, ran to aid her son and doing so, she accidentally knocked the tasers out of his body," said Chell. The young man reportedly picked up the scissors again and advanced towards the officers, prompting them to discharge their firearms, resulting in his death. "It was chaotic, fast-moving, and they had to defend themselves," Fox reported.
The individual was transported to Jamaica Hospital, where medical personnel pronounced him deceased. Following the incident, both officers underwent tinnitus testing at the hospital. There were no reports of shots being fired at the officers, and no injuries were sustained by law enforcement personnel. Chell mentioned that the shooting occurred during a period of mourning within the department.
Who was Officer Jonathan Diller?
Officer Diller, a married young father of a 1 year old, was fatally shot in the line of duty on Monday, while conducting a traffic stop in Far Rockaway, Queens.
"As our city mourns for Officer Diller, as we recover from this heinous act of violence against him, our cops still have to be out here 24/7," Chell said. "Defending the community and helping the community. They tried to do that today with a person in mental distress," Chell said.
