Police Fatal Shooting in West Village: Man Points Fake Gun at Officers, Dies After Being Shot Multiple Times
In a tragic turn of events, a 37-year-old man was fatally shot by NYPD officers in the West Village last night after he pointed what appeared to be a gun at them. The incident occurred around 10:50 p.m. near Bedford Street and Sixth Avenue, where two people reported a car crash involving a BMW that had driven off.
According to Assistant Chief James McCarthy, commanding officer of Manhattan South patrol borough, the officers approached the vehicle after it was stopped in traffic. At that point, the man inside stepped out and pointed what appeared to be a gun at the officers. Despite their repeated commands to drop the fake weapon, the man held onto it even as officers fired at him.
"It was super scary," said neighbor Saad Cheema, who witnessed the incident. "I've never heard gunshots in my life. It almost felt like it was inside my apartment." The street was silent for a bit before a swarm of additional police cars and paramedics showed up.
EMS workers responded to the scene and took the man to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Officials did not immediately identify him to the public. The incident marked the city's second fatal NYPD shooting on Thursday, with another fatality occurring earlier at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital in Park Slope.
The motive behind the initial shooting remains unclear, but authorities have confirmed that it involved a man who barricaded himself in a room with a sharp object and was attempting to harm an elderly patient and hospital security staff. The man's body was found in his car, which had been left in traffic after he initially drove off following the crash.
Police are reviewing both incidents using their internal investigation division, while Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed condolences for the victims' families. "I know many are eager for answers," he wrote on social media. "The NYPD is conducting an internal investigation — I will work with Commissioner [Jessica] Tisch to ensure this is as thorough and swift as possible."
Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal also weighed in, tweeting that imitation guns are deadly serious and manufacturers must be held accountable. He passed state legislation in 2022 banning imitation guns like the one used in the West Village shooting.
As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen whether any changes will be made to the NYPD's procedures for handling such situations.
In a tragic turn of events, a 37-year-old man was fatally shot by NYPD officers in the West Village last night after he pointed what appeared to be a gun at them. The incident occurred around 10:50 p.m. near Bedford Street and Sixth Avenue, where two people reported a car crash involving a BMW that had driven off.
According to Assistant Chief James McCarthy, commanding officer of Manhattan South patrol borough, the officers approached the vehicle after it was stopped in traffic. At that point, the man inside stepped out and pointed what appeared to be a gun at the officers. Despite their repeated commands to drop the fake weapon, the man held onto it even as officers fired at him.
"It was super scary," said neighbor Saad Cheema, who witnessed the incident. "I've never heard gunshots in my life. It almost felt like it was inside my apartment." The street was silent for a bit before a swarm of additional police cars and paramedics showed up.
EMS workers responded to the scene and took the man to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Officials did not immediately identify him to the public. The incident marked the city's second fatal NYPD shooting on Thursday, with another fatality occurring earlier at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital in Park Slope.
The motive behind the initial shooting remains unclear, but authorities have confirmed that it involved a man who barricaded himself in a room with a sharp object and was attempting to harm an elderly patient and hospital security staff. The man's body was found in his car, which had been left in traffic after he initially drove off following the crash.
Police are reviewing both incidents using their internal investigation division, while Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed condolences for the victims' families. "I know many are eager for answers," he wrote on social media. "The NYPD is conducting an internal investigation — I will work with Commissioner [Jessica] Tisch to ensure this is as thorough and swift as possible."
Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal also weighed in, tweeting that imitation guns are deadly serious and manufacturers must be held accountable. He passed state legislation in 2022 banning imitation guns like the one used in the West Village shooting.
As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen whether any changes will be made to the NYPD's procedures for handling such situations.
I just can't believe what's going on in the world right now... this news is really sad 
. But, um, you know what? I was thinking about getting a new phone case and I'm totally stuck on whether to get a clear one or a cartoon character one 
. Like, which one do people actually prefer?! My friend got that cool one with the Pokémon guy on it and it's so sick 
.
. So, like, is it safe to say that police officers have a lot of stress and pressure on them? Like, they're gotta deal with real emergencies and stuff 
. It's just so sad when things go wrong... 
.
. I'm totally getting there this weekend!
2 people even reported a car crash nearby meanwhile mayor zohran mamdani says he'll work w/ commissioner jessica tisch to ensure thorough & swift investigation 
stats: avg 3 cops involved in fatal nypd shootings per month in 2024, resulting in 10+ victim fatalities (source: nytimes) 
? I mean, the guy's life is over because of a toy gun... it's just not worth it #FakeGunScares. We gotta keep our communities safe but also find ways to address the root issues that lead to these situations 
how can we be so quick to assume its a legitimate threat when maybe hes just some crazy dude waving his hands around? 
and whats up with the NYPDs internal investigation process, is it really as thorough as Mayor Mamdani claims? 
need more info on this one... where are the dashcams? 
anyone have a source on how many times NYC has had cops shoot someone since 2020? 
what a crazy story, right? so this guy points a fake gun at the cops and they end up killing him... i don't get why he didn't just drop it, i mean i know people can be super paranoid but come on. anyway, i'm still glad the police were able to respond quickly, but it's always sad when something like this happens. i feel bad for the family of that guy and also for the officers who had to deal with this situation. 
like what were they thinking?! the police have to be so careful but also they gotta make sure public safety is first 
and yeah imitation guns are serious business manufacturers should really get held accountable 
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anyway, gotta say, this whole thing's a total bummer for the fam of that dude. my thoughts 
. But seriously, what's the deal with these imitation guns?! They're everywhere! I mean, I get it, safety first and all that, but shouldn't there be some kind of regulation on this stuff?! Like, we need to keep our communities safe, but at what cost? And what about the cops who have to deal with this every day? 
what's wrong with him? 
i mean i get it people freak out but come on... and now we got two families grieving because of some poor cop's mistake 
idk i just think there's gotta be a better way to handle this kinda situation 
Like, I get that cops have a tough job and all, but this whole thing just feels really avoidable 
? I mean, I know we're living in a world where stuff like this can happen, but that doesn't make it any less scary 
. It's like, what's the likelihood that something like this is gonna happen to me or someone I care about? 
... like, we need better training for officers on how to handle situations like this 
. And it would be great if manufacturers could take more responsibility for making safer products 
.
just dont get why ppl think its cool 2 play w/ fake guns 
it aint no joke at all, 37 yrs old man lives forever instead of 10 mins 
officers doin thier job, they got ta save ppl from harm 
but at the same time, NYPD gotta be more careful w/ deir actions too