A young boy was found dead and his parents were stabbed inside their Queens apartment by a man gunned down by police Thursday evening, NYPD officials said.
The tragic incident is still under investigation, but police said the 20-year-old man believed to be behind the July 4 violence was confronted by police and shot dead by a single shot.
Officers responded to the Jamaica building on 94th Avenue around 5:30 p.m. after the boy’s mother ran outside bleeding and yelling for help, NYPD Chief John Chell said at a press conference.
Police rushed to the family’s apartment on the fifth floor, where Chell said they entered and found the 20-year-old suspect holding his father in a headlock and a knife to his neck. The officers gave multiple commands for the man to drop the knife, in English and Spanish, but they were ignored, the chief said.
Chell would not say how the young boy, 8, had died, but sources said he had multiple stab wounds to his chest.
His mother, 29, and father, 43, were being treated for their stab wounds. The 20-year-old man was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
There was also an 8-month-old baby inside the apartment during the terrifying ordeal, but Chell said the infant was physically unharmed.
The circumstances of the violent attacks and what may have motivated the suspect were still under investigation.
Two jet skiers were rescued from the Hudson River this week after they fell off their rides and were swept away by hard currents, authorities say.
It wasn’t clear if the men had been with a tour or on their own when they fell into the water. They had lifejackets on.
Both made it out safely. The NYPD shared video of the save (below).
Earlier this week, 2 men were jetskiing in the Hudson River when they fell into the water, drifting far off due to the currents. Your @NYPDSpecialOps Aviation and Harbor cops quickly responded, locating the men and rescuing them safely. pic.twitter.com/lru3aWkzuo
Comptroller Brad Lander took aim at the NYPD’s ShotSpotter technology Thursday, calling it a waste of resources while police themselves say it is an integral tool.
Photo by Dean Moses
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Comptroller Brad Lander took aim at the NYPD’s ShotSpotter technology Thursday, calling the citywide network of sound sensors designed to detect gunfire an ineffective waste of resources.
The New York City Comptroller’s office announced the findings of an audit on June 20 that claims ShotSpotter often sends cops on wild goose chases. Shootings were correctly identified just 13% of the time, according to the comptroller’s audit, wasting officers’ time by sometimes more than a half-hour on a bogus activation — leading to thousands of hours wasted over a given year.
The NYPD, however, decried Lander’s findings and insisted ShotSpotter has proven its worth in helping to save lives and catch shooters. The audit comes as police brass say they plan to add the technology to drones to provide a faster response to reported shootings.
Lander’s audit reviewed an eight-month period between 2022 and 2023, and 7,262 incidents that did not lead to confirmed shootings.
“ShotSpotter claims to be ‘a proven detection system’ that is ‘faster and more accurate’, but our audit found that 87% of the time, ShotSpotter is sending NYPD officers in response to loud noises that don’t turn out to be confirmed shootings,” Lander said. “The evidence shows that NYPD is wasting precious time and money on this technology and needs to do a better job managing its resources. Chasing down car backfires and construction noise does not make us safer.”
Lander recommends the Big Apple does not renew its contract with ShotSpotter, following in the footsteps of other major U.S cities like Chicago, Atlanta and Portland.
City Comptroller Brad Lander. File Photo by Dean Moses
In response to the audit, the NYPD released a six-page rebuttal to the findings and recommendations stating foremost that it is the responsibility of the responding officer, who is already on patrol in that area, to investigate if there was a shooting that set off the ShotSpotter alert.
Ballistic evidence is not always present especially if the shooter uses a revolver or does so from a car where the casing remains.
“The auditors’ analysis found that ShotSpotter alerts yield a confirmed shooting rate of 8% to 13% for the second half of fiscal year 2023 (January 2023 to July 2023). The auditors are critical of this low confirmed shooting rate; however, an anticipated benefit of ShotSpotter’s technology is to produce a police response to a shooting whether or not a 911 call is made. Year-to-date (as of May 19, 2024), 2,601 ShotSpotter alerts were activated citywide with a 15.6% confirmed shooting rate,” part of the response said.
Landers’ audit reports that “over-policing” may occur due to frequent false alerts; however, the NYPD dismisses that notion.
ShotSpotter, the NYPD insisted, does not provide officers to stop or arrest an individual; rather, the system only provides a location where a possible crime may have occurred.
“The NYPD provided a comprehensive response to the audit’s findings and recommendations, which was included as part of the report. The Department consistently reviews the effectiveness of technologies it utilizes to combat crime. ShotSpotter remains an integral tool in the NYPD’s mission of addressing gun violence and keeping the public safe,” an NYPD spokesperson said in a statement.
FILE – An officer at a crime scenePhoto by Dean Moses
Police Officer Hieu Tran wept while being walked out of Manhattan Criminal Court Friday afternoon after being extradited to New Jersey to face attempted murder charges in an apparent road rage shooting.
Photo by Dean Moses
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Police Officer Hieu Tran wept while being walked out of Manhattan Criminal Court Friday afternoon after being extradited to New Jersey to face attempted murder charges in an apparent road rage shooting.
Tran, 27, an officer assigned as a photographer with the NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information (DCPI) office, was arrested Friday for allegedly shooting a 30-year-old man in an apparent road rage incident on May 17 along the Cooper Road in Camden County.
Prosecutors said Tran allegedly shot the victim three times before fleeing the scene, leaving a multi-vehicle crash in his wake. The victim remains hospitalized nearly a month later.
Sources familiar with the investigation said that cops tied Tran to the crime thorugh surveillance footage, credit card usage records, and cellphone records. Ballistics analysis also found that the bullets had been fired from Tran’s service weapon.
Prosecutors said Tran allegedly shot the victim three times before fleeing the scene, leaving a multi-vehicle crash in his wake. The victim remains hospitalized nearly a month later. Photo by Dean Moses
Officers from the Camden County, NJ Sheriff’s Office arrived at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse in Lower Manhattan just before 5 p.m. on June 7, holding chains used minutes later to bring out Tran, who wept as the officers marched him into the back of a vehicle.
Several cops who spoke with amNewYork Metro said Tran’s arrest has left them shocked — noting that he was well-liked in the department and “would have been on the back of the list” of people they thought could be capable of such an act.
“He was such a nice guy,” one source said.
Several cops who spoke with amNewYork Metro said Tran’s arrest has left them shocked — noting that he was well-liked in the department and “would have been on the back of the list” of people they thought could be capable of such an act.. Photo by Dean Moses
Tran performed social media duties for the NYPD and was often seen with cameras slung around his neck taking photographs, most notably seen documenting mass arrests at Columbia University on April 30.
Tran is facing attempted murder charges, along with second-degree aggravated assault and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
According to an NYPD spokesperson, Tran has been suspended pending prosecution.
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — Marchers chanted for the release of hostages in Gaza on Sunday at a New York City parade for Israel that drew thousands of people under heightened security.
The parade came almost eight months after the unprecedented Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, the deadliest in Israel’s history. The parade in the past was dubbed “Celebrate Israel,” but organizers said the exuberant atmosphere would be paused this year given the war and Israeli hostages still being held in captivity, as well as outbursts of antisemitism worldwide.
“Especially this year, after Oct. 7, it’s especially important to have this show of unity,” said Rena Orman, a Bronx native who took part in the parade as part of Mothers Against College Antisemitism. “Everybody wants hostages back. Everyone wants this to end. No one is cheering for this. Everyone wants peace.”
The parade, now called “Israel Day on Fifth” because of the route along Fifth Avenue from 57th Street to 74th Street in Manhattan, focused on solidarity, strength and resilience.
“This is not a mood of confetti and music,” CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council Mark Treyger said. “This is more of a mood of unwavering, ironclad solidarity with hostages to bring them home, and also our unwavering love and pride in our Jewish identity.”
The parade, which is in its 59th year, drew thousands of participants, including Israeli dignitaries, celebrities and some of the hostages’ families.
There was never a thought of cancelling the parade this year, Treyger said, despite what he termed an astronomical rise in antisemitism.
“This is a moment that we have to meet,” he said.
But there was significant security.
New York Police Department officials said Friday they plan to implement measures typically used for high-profile events such as New Year’s Eve and July 4. That includes drones, K-9 units, bike patrols, fencing and barriers and designated entry points for spectators all along the parade route.
Backpacks, large bags and coolers were prohibited. Spectators had to pass through metal detectors.
City officials stressed Friday there were no specific or credible threats to either the parade or the city and any protestors have the right to demonstrate so long as its done peacefully.
“We’re not going to allow any unlawfulness and any disruption of any celebration of one’s heritage in this city,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said at a security briefing.
Police did not report any parade-related arrests by late Sunday afternoon.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Police Commissioner Edward Caban spoke on the security measures being taken in preparation of the parade.
The parade represented the first large-scale Jewish event in the city since the war started, although there have been roughly 2,800 protests in the city, with about 1,300 of them related to the conflict, the Democrat said.
Israel faces growing international criticism for its strategy of systematic destruction in Gaza, at a huge cost in civilian lives. Israeli bombardments and ground offensives in the besieged territory have killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
Organizers said this year spectators won’t experience the music, bands, and the traditional mirth. The message of the parade will be “Bring Them Home,” referring to the hostages held by Hamas, nearly eight months after Hamas’ attack on Israel.
According to New York City’s Office of the Mayor, there have been nearly 2,800 protests across the city since Oct. 7, with almost 1,300 demonstrations related to the war in the Middle East.
This year’s parade carried an additional concern that scuffles could erupt between protesters and spectators, either during the parade or as they disperse afterward.
NYC Police Commissioner Edward Caban urged those attending this weekend’s parade to remain vigilant.
“The eyes and ears of New York play a vital role in protecting our city. So, if you see something that doesn’t feel right, please let a cop know,” Caban said.
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The annual Salute to Israel Parade on Sunday looked very different nearly eight months removed from the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attacks.
The NYPD kept a tight lid on the event as over 153 groups participated in the march along Fifth Avenue, with many calling for the remaining hostages currently being held captive by Hamas to be returned home.
It was unlike any other parade in New York City. Two avenues were cordoned off with police barricades. At the same time, fences were erected along Central Park from 56th to 78th Streets, all in an attempt to keep away protesters who have fumed for months over the ongoing war in Gaza that has seen thousands of people killed.
Even those permitted to spectate the festivities from the sidewalk contended with two additional barricades that socially distanced them from marchers.
Photo by Dean MosesU.S. Senator Chuck Schumer addresses the crowd before the start of the Israel Day on Fifth Parade.Photo by Gabriele HoltermannMarchers called for hostages to be released.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
Inside the parade zone, hundreds proudly waved the blue-and-white Israeli flag as well as signs bearing the faces of 120 hostages still being held captive by Hamas, demanding that they be returned home. The march went on days after President Biden announced that the Israeli government agreed to a roadmap for a peaceful end to the war, and the release of the hostages, and was now waiting on Hamas to agree to the same terms.
‘One People, One Heart’
The theme of this year’s parade emphasized solidarity — “One People, One Heart” — to keep in mind those still in captivity since Oct. 7, 2023.
Marcelo Garzoa son-in-law, Dolev Yahou, was one of the 120 hostages taken when Hamas attacked. He joined dozens of other families at the parade to call for their safe return during the parade.
Marcelo Garzoa son-in-law, Dolev Yahou, was one of the 120 hostages taken when Hamas attacked.Photo by Dean MosesMarchers called for hostages to be released.Photo by Gabriele HoltermannA young girl wrapped in a Israeli flag.Photo by Dean Moses
Garzoa recalls waking up to the sound of missiles while in Israel, and his first response was to call his daughter. She was 38 weeks pregnant hiding in a neighbor’s safe room with their three children, but his son-in-law, who works as a paramedic was responding to aid in the attack zone.
The last messages Garzoa’s daughter received from her husband urged her to flee toward a neighbor’s safe room upon learning about the attacks, and then his last message said ‘I love you.” She never heard from him again.
“My son-in-law made sure that my daughter was in a saferoom because he’s a paramedic. He went to give first aid to the people that are defending the kibbutz Re’im. From that morning, we have not heard anything [from him,]” Garzoa said.
Garzoa implores Hamas to let the hostages go.
“We must return them to Israel,” Gatzoa said.
Twenty-nine-year-old Noam Safir was set to attend a Bruno Mars concert in Tel Aviv, and then the Hamas attacks occurred. She swiftly met up with her siblings and hid in her brother’s dorm room at the Tel Aviv University as they waited out the attack.
Hours later, she learned from family members that a Hamas group entered her grandparents’ home and beat her 86-year-old grandfather Shlomo Mantzur before kidnapping him and stealing his car.
Twenty-nine-year-old Noam Safir.Photo by Dean MosesA biker shows off his tattoo which he made in solidarity with Israel. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
“They handcuffed him, they slapped him, and they demanded the car keys from my grandmother. They took my grandmother and grandfather out toward the car, that when my grandmother managed to escape. She ran back to a neighbor’s safe room. They took my grandfather in his own car to Gaza and we have not heard from him,” Safir said.
“I broke down. I started crying,” Safir said describing how she felt learning about what happened to her grandfather.
“Imagine that your relative that you speak to on a daily basis goes missing over half a year. You can’t speak to them, you know nothing of their mental or physical state. People can’t really imagine what I am going through for me and the other families of the other hostages. Having no information for 239 days is difficult,” Safir said.
Photo by Dean MosesThousands marched in the Israel Day on Fifth parade standing in solidarity with Israel.Photo by Gabriele HoltermannTwo women place stickers of hostages on a tree.Photo by Dean Moses
“We don’t want this war. We don’t want to fight the Palestinian people. I am speaking for myself, and I believe every other person here. All we want is our relatives back. Just let them go, free them. That was the reason this war started,” Safir added.
Yael Navsker also joined in the chants “Bring them back home” because her uncle, Ohad Yahalomi, is also one of the Israelis still held hostage by the terror group Hamas.
Yahalomi turned 50 while in captivity, and Navsker told amNewYork Metro that they hadn’t heard anything since he was kidnapped on Oct. 7. 2023.
Yael Navsker holds up a photo of her uncle Ohad Yahalomi who is still held hostage by the terror group Hamas.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
Yahalomi owns a camel farm and researches scorpions, Navsker shared. She has fond memories of visiting her uncle, whom she described as an amazing person and one of the funniest people she knows.
Photo by Dean MosesThousands marched in the Israel Day on Fifth parade standing in solidarity with Israel.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
“He would take us barefoot at night to look for scorpions with UV lights in the desert. And we do that right after going to the camel farm,” Navsker shared.
“All I really care about is bringing my uncle home. Whatever needs to happen to do that, as long as everybody stays safe, I just want him home,” Navsker added.
Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
In the afternoon, a small group of Pro-Palestine Protesters—unable to get to the parade route—peacefully marched from 79th Street and Fifith Avenue up to 86th and Lexington Avenue.
While there were a few arguments between those who finished their celebration at the Israel parade, the small group kept to the sidewalk as they called for Gaza to be freed.
Police in Harlem shot a man after he allegedly threatened people with a knife outside of a police precinct Saturday night.
According to police, someone ran into the 23rd Precinct in East Harlem around 5:30 p.m. to tell cops that a man armed with a knife was trying to stab a group of people.
“The officers crossed the street and saw the male, armed with a knife, running and attempting to stab a victim. The situation was extremely chaotic and fast,” Assistant Chief Ruel Stephenson said. “The officers gave numerous verbal commands to the male to drop the knife, however he continued to run after the victim while wielding the knife.”
Police said the 36-year-old man then lunged at an officer in the street with the knife, then ran to the sidewalk, still chasing the victim. The man allegedly lunged at a second officer, who deployed a taser and it the man — but it was ineffective.
“As the officer discharged the taser, the male then swung the knife at the officer missing her face by mere inches. The sergeant, seeing the male trying to slash the officer, has no choice but to discharge his firearm,” Stephenson added.
That officer fired one round, hitting the man in the back. Police said the entire encounter lasted 34 seconds.
“I saw the policeman holding a gun, he was yelling something. I couldn’t see the guy with the knife, but suddenly I heard a gunshot,” Pai-chun Ma, an East Harlem resident, said.
The man with the knife was taken to the hospital. Police said he has a documented history of mental illness with the department, including two encounters with police in may where he was evaluated at the hospital.
Neighbors in the area were surprised to hear it happened just steps from the precinct in broad daylight.
“All we can do is pray that things get better and these kids stay safe,” another neighbor said.
The NYPD said there is bodycam footage as well as security video of the shooting that will be included in its investigation.
Two NYPD police officers were indicted on multiple sexual abuse charges stemming from an incident involving a heavily intoxicated woman who could barely stand up on her own after a night out in the Bronx, according to the district attorney.
The two cops, 31-year-old Christian Garcia and 39-year-old Julio Alcantara-Santiago, were drinking with the victim at the Zona de Cuba restaurant in the Concourse neighborhood after midnight on July 9, 2023, said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. Investigators said the woman got very intoxicated, unable to stand or walk on her own.
Surveillance video showed the two officers practically carry her out, holding the woman up by her arms, before bringing her into a nearby building. Prosecutors alleged that Garcia and Alcantara-Santiago performed sexual acts on the woman inside as she was unconscious, then ran off when she started to wake up.
The DA’s office said the victim went to a hospital the next morning, where a rape kit was conducted. Medical testing identified DNA contributions from Garcia and Alcantara-Santiago on the victim after both men agreed to submit DNA samples.
“The alleged actions are reprehensible. The victim was incapacitated and physically helpless, unable to consent. Our office is providing services to the victim to help her through this,” said DA Clark.
The cops were indicted Thursday on multiple charges including sex abuse and criminal sexual act. Attorney information for was not clear for either Garcia nor Alcantara-Santiago.
The next court appearance for the two was scheduled for Aug. 6.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office said Tuesday night that they would not prosecute 22-year-old social media influencer Kai Cenat for the madness that devolved at Union Square on Aug. 4. Two others, Denzel Dennis and Muktar Din, will also not face prosecution for their roles in the riot that turned violent.
The DA’s office said that Cenat had already paid $55,000 in restitution, and the other two had each paid just over $1,000 each as well. Cenat also posted a lengthy apology on his Snapchat account, which would be reposted by Dennis and Din.
“When I promoted a give-away PS5s in Union Square Park it created an unintentional dangerous situation due to the way I promoted and advertised it. The result was an unsafe situation for the people who live and work in the neighborhood, first responders, and my followers that attended the event,” the apology read. “I apologize for the disruption and damage to the community, the park, the vehicles, and the storefronts in the area…I apologize to the first responders who had to endure the backlash of this irresponsible promotion and work to restore calm.”
He also offered an apology to his followers who went to the event and did not act out, saying it was “never my intent for it to get so out of hand.”
The DA’s office said the case would be officially dismissed after that apology was on social media for a full 24 hours. Prosecutors also said none of the trio had any new arrests since the incident.
Here’s what it looked like in Union Square during Kai Cenat pandemonium
Thousands of fans of Cenat, who has millions of followers on Twitch, YouTube and other platforms, showed up after Cenat announced that he would be there giving away video game consoles and other electronic devices that afternoon. A crowd of mostly young people packed into the park, with some running running through nearby streets, swinging objects at car windows and climbing on top of buses.
What exactly turned the crowd unruly isn’t quite clear, but by 3:30 p.m. people were seen throwing garbage at police and taking down barriers around the perimeter. Witnesses reported seeing others hurling chairs and bottles.
Police said several people — including officers — were injured, including at least four who were taken to hospitals. About 65 people were arrested, nearly half of whom were juveniles. Police estimated crowds swelled to 5,000-6,000 people.
Officers eventually pulled Cenat from the massive crowd, and he was seen speaking to several officials afterward.
The NYPD is ramping up its pursuit of the people who cause chaos in Union Square on Friday. Gus Rosendale reports.
Cenat, who grew up in the Bronx but now lives in Atlanta, said he had planned the event as a gift to his hometown.
“I am from NY and would never want to the city turned upside down due to unwanted, irresponsible, and dangerous behavior. I wanted to do something cool and fun for people and did not think it was going to turn into something that caused harm to the city, and I should have though more about the post before I announced it,” his apology on Snapchat read. “The actions of some of the people that attended were unacceptable. At no time is it ok to act out physically in situations like this or to destroy property or try to harm people…social media is a very powerful tool to do good, but it can also cause dangerous unwanted situations if it is not used properly.”
In a video posted on Twitch about a week after the chaos, Cenat said he was “beyond disappointed” in the bad behavior that occurred. Cenat was upset about what erupted from what he said was supposed to be a fun giveaway.
“I don’t condone any of the things that went on,” he said in the video, noting how some of his followers jumped on cars and hurled bottles during madness. “None of that is cool, bro, you feel what I’m saying?”
Who is Kai Cenat?
NBC New York’s Chris Glorioso reports on Kai Cenat, the social media and Twitch influencer who organized the reported game console giveaway Friday in Union Square.
Kai Cenat, who police said organized the giveaway that led to the chaotic scene, is a Twitch streamer and YouTuber who has been making online content since 2018, when he was still in high school. He is known for having a large fanbase, and in Feb. 2023, became the most-subscribed Twitch streamer of all time, with more than 100,000 subscribers.
He’s won awards for his content, which includes videos of him doing various challenges, online pranks and more. In addition to those videos, he gained following for videos where he chatted with viewers on his Twitch channel, which he started in 2021.
While it didn’t appear that Friday’s stunt was a prank of any sort, he has done other prank videos like pretending to break his brother’s PlayStation 4 controller, or knocking on neighbors doors and running away — a video which became his first one to break a million views.
A small band of young people are performing what they are calling a sit-in at the SVA administrative offices inside of 340 East 24th St. The group is apparently refusing to move from inside the building until a list of demands are met, which includes publicly condemning the onslaught on Gaza and disclosing if financial assets are supporting the ongoing war in Gaza, launched after terrorists attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
SVA confirmed that school security called the NYPD regarding the situation. Two police officers apparently performed a wellness check for 35 minutes before leaving the building.
The presence of cops sent students and fellow protesters into a frenzy, believing arrests could be imminent. Swiftly gathering, demonstrators marched in a circle in front of the school and taped signs reading “Free Palestine” to the buildings. Photo by Dean MosesThe group is apparently refusing to move from inside the building until a list of demands are met, which includes publicly condemning the onslaught on Gaza and disclosing if financial assets are supporting the ongoing Middle Eastern war. Photo by Dean Moses
Swiftly gathering, demonstrators marched in a circle in front of the school and taped signs reading “Free Palestine” to the buildings. They drummed on barrels and used chalk to write “Divest” on the sidewalk.
Meanwhile, some passersby took issue with their message and got into heated arguments over the war.
While student protesters say negotiations are ongoing, one teacher stating that the school has threatened to forcibly remove those performing the sit-in if it continues after school hours.
According to an SVA spokesperson, the administrative offices were closed at 1 p.m. and student services were continued remotely. They were also asked to move elsewhere, which they refused.
The group is apparently refusing to move from inside the building until a list of demands are met, which includes publicly condemning the onslaught on Gaza and disclosing if financial assets are supporting the ongoing Middle Eastern war. Photo by Dean MosesThe group is apparently refusing to move from inside the building until a list of demands are met, which includes publicly condemning the onslaught on Gaza and disclosing if financial assets are supporting the ongoing Middle Eastern war. Photo by Dean Moses
“School of Visual Arts is committed to supporting free speech and engaged citizenry among our community and are equally committed to maintaining a safe environment for all. We share in our students’ rejection of violence and encourage them to peacefully express themselves without hate speech or discrimination,” a statement from SVA read.
In response, students apparently asked if the SVA wants to join the growing list of colleges who have called police on their students.
This comes after the NYPD dismantled encampments at Columbia University, City College, and Fordham University. Protests at NYU and Fashion Institute remain ongoing.
Meanwhile, some passersby took issue with their message and got into heated arguments over the war.Photo by Dean Moses
NEW YORK — The NYPD has started to enter Columbia University campus amid ongoing protests.
An alert sent from the school Tuesday urged students on the Morningside campus to “shelter in place for your safety due to heightened activity” and “avoid the area until further notice.”
The university says only students living in residential buildings on the Morningside campus and essential services employees for campus buildings, labs and residential student life are allowed on campus at this time. The only open entrance is the 116th Street and Amsterdam gate.
Campus restriction will remain in effect until further notice.
NYPD given permission to enter Columbia University campus
Hundreds of NYPD officers were seen outside the campus gates around 9 p.m. Tuesday.
The city has a letter in hand from Columbia authorizing it to send the NYPD on to campus, according to a senior city official.
Students were seen being brought out in handcuffs. It is unclear how many arrests have been made at this time.
At least five NYPD buses were seen parked on 114th Street to take away those who have been arrested.
CBS New York
NYPD officers were seen driving an Emergency Service Unit to reach a window of Hamilton Hall. Dozens of officers, some in riot gear, began to enter the building through a window around 9:30 p.m.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and local law enforcement officials say “outside agitators” have “co-opted” the on-campus protests. At a press conference Tuesday, they urged Columbia student protesters to leave the area “before the situation escalates in any way.”
Police had set up barricades all around the university’s perimeter earlier Tuesday evening, where more protesters gathered. Protesters outside the campus were heard chanting “shame on you” and “free, free Palestine” as officers made their way inside the campus.
Columbia University releases statement after NYPD enters campus
A university spokesman released the following statement at 9:26 p.m.:
“A little after 9 p.m. this evening, the NYPD arrived on campus at the University’s request. This decision was made to restore safety and order to our community.
“We regret that protesters have chosen to escalate the situation through their actions. After the University learned overnight that Hamilton Hall had been occupied, vandalized, and blockaded, we were left with no choice. Columbia public safety personnel were forced out of the building, and a member of our facilities team was threatened. We will not risk the safety of our community or the potential for further escalation.
“The leadership team, including the Board of Trustees, met throughout the night and into the early morning, consulting with security experts and law enforcement to determine the best plan to protect our students and the entire Columbia community. We made the decision, early in the morning, that this was a law enforcement matter, and that the NYPD were best positioned to determine and execute an appropriate response.
“We believe that the group that broke into and occupied the building is led by individuals who are not affiliated with the University. Sadly, this dangerous decision followed more than a week of what had been productive discussions with representatives of the West Lawn encampment.
“We severely curtailed the number of people on Morningside campus starting Tuesday morning. Over the course of the day, we updated our community on access to campus buildings, and will continue to do so through the next few days.
“The decision to reach out to the NYPD was in response to the actions of the protesters, not the cause they are championing. We have made it clear that the life of campus cannot be endlessly interrupted by protesters who violate the rules and the law.
“Early Tuesday, protesters chose to escalate to an alarming and untenable situation – including by vandalizing property, breaking doors and windows, blockading entrances, and forcing our facilities and public safety workers out – and we are responding appropriately as we have long made clear we would. The safety of our community, especially our students, remains our top priority.”
Columbia University student protesters arrested
The NYPD had previously been called in by Columbia University President Minouche Shafik on April 18 when pro-Palestinian demonstrators first set up their unsanctioned tent city on the school’s lawn. In a letter, Shafik wrote in part, “The encampment and related disruptions pose a clear and present danger to the substantial functioning of the University … With great regret, we request the NYPD’s help to remove these individuals.”
Over 100 people were arrested. Most of them were given summonses for trespassing, and Shafik said participating students would be suspended.
The NYPD says those inside Hamilton Hall could face burglary, criminal mischief and trespassing charges, while those in the encampments could face trespassing and disorderly conduct charges.
Columbia University officials say students inside Hamilton Hall face expulsion and students who refuse to leave the encampment are being suspended. They say seniors will be ineligible to graduate.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said the actions at Hamilton Hall crossed into vandalism and violence, but ultimately it’s up to the university to decide how to handle it.
Mayor Eric Adams (at podium) with (l. to r.) Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, Police Commissioner Edward Caban and Chief of Patrol John Chell at an April 18, 2024 briefing at One Police Plaza.
Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office
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Two more classes of NYPD recruits will be added this spring and summer, bringing the department rank-and-file to near its highest headcount in the coming year, Mayor Eric Adams and Police Commissioner Edward Caban announced on Saturday.
Hizzoner credited strong fiscal management and a stronger-than-expected economic rebound for the city in enabling City Hall to restore funding to two additional Police Department classes in the executive budget.
“This will allow us to have 1,200 additional officers who will be hitting our streets to keep our city even safer in the coming year,” Mayor Adams said during an April 20 press conference in Manhattanville.
The two 600-recruit classes will be added this May and July, and will supplement two other classes added in recent months. By next year, the four combined classes, upon graduation from the NYPD Police Academy, will deliver 2,400 new police officers to the city, and bring the total uniformed NYPD headcount to 35,000, which Caban said would be “more or less” near a record high.
“The people we serve demand public safety, and the men and women of the NYPD are proud to hold that line,” Caban said. “These additional officers will play a key role in our efforts to reduce violence and protect New Yorkers.”
The influx of new officers could not come sooner for the NYPD. While Mayor Adams and Commissioner Caban touted a sustained drop in crime citywide, the department has had to do more with less, as attrition within the rank-and-file — namely from a surge in officer retirements — saw the headcount drop to under 34,000 and a surge in overtime expenses.
Even with the logistical challenges, Mayor Adams noted, major crimes have dropped each month so far in 2024 off a year-long decrease in 2023. Shootings and homicides have plummeted in particular, and the NYPD has turned the tide on an early spike in transit crime — as a surge of 1,000 police officers daily into the subway system resulted in double-digit crime decreases underground in February and March.
“We’re driving down crime, we’ve saved lives and we have laid the foundation for our economic recovery,” the mayor said. “But we want to keep the success going. … [This] puts New York City on the path of having a total of 35,000 uniformed officers in the coming year. We’re getting those numbers back up to the numbers that we believe are needed to continue our success.”
Caban noted that the NYPD’s increased use in technology — from drones to weapons detection software — have helped the department do more to stop crime, but there is no substitute for having more officers on the streets throughout the city.
“The men and women of the NYPD are the ultimate fighters of crime,” the commissioner noted. “They’re the ones who know our neighborhoods and use technology to develop solutions. They’re the ones who stand on the street corner and let the world know, ‘Not today, not on my watch.’”
Cops are on the hunt for a gunman who shot two people, one fatally, in Brooklyn on Monday in a hail of bullets, authorities said.
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
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Brooklyn detectives are on the hunt for the gunman behind a Monday night shooting that left one man dead and another seriously wounded.
According to police sources, officers from the 73rd Precinct received multiple 911 calls of gunfire erupting at Mother Gaston Boulevard and Sutter Avenue in Brownsville at around 7:59 p.m. on April 8.
Upon arriving at the scene, the officers found two victims: a 50-year-old man was apparently shot in the back, and a 41-year-old man suffered a bullet wound to the shoulder.
Both victims were whisked by EMS to Brookdale University Hospital, where the 50-year-old was pronounced dead; his identity has been withheld by police, pending family notification. The 41-year-old victim, meanwhile remains in stable condition.
Cops are on the hunt for a gunman who shot two people, one fatally, in Brooklyn on Monday in a hail of bullets, authorities said. Photo by Lloyd MitchellCops are on the hunt for a gunman who shot two people, one fatally, in Brooklyn on Monday in a hail of bullets, authorities said.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
As of Tuesday morning, police did not have information about a possible motive for the double shooting.
No arrests have been made and the investigation remains ongoing. Police are looking for a shooter described as a male who was last seen wearing all black with a red hooded sweatshirt.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
Through April 7, the 73rd Precinct tallied six homicides year-to-date — double the total at the same point in 2023, according to the most recent CompStat report. Shootings are also up so far in the command in 2024, with 13 incidents, three more than the number tallied through April 7, 2023.
Several transit cops told amNewYork Metro how they arrested three different individuals across two boroughs on Tuesday for major crimes that they said initially stemmed from small infractions.
Photo by Dean Moses
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While some question whether the NYPD should concentrate on halting fare evasion and minor quality-of-life offenses in the subways, several transit officers with whom amNewYork Metro spoke on Wednesday underscored success in cuffing serious criminals after stopping them for otherwise minor infractions.
As the public’s zeroes in on subway crime following recent shootings and a spike in theft, NYPD brass have repeatedly charged that in order to reinsure safety underground, officers need to catch those who jump turnstiles or slip through open emergency gates, or smoke on subway platforms — as often, these individuals who break one minor law are apt to committing more serious crime.
This was evident during NYPD Transit Bureau patrols underground on March 19, when officers in the Bronx and Manhattan stopped three individuals for minor offenses who turned to carry serious weapons and/or have outstanding felony arrest warrant.
One such incident occurred in the Bronx at around 7:10 p.m. on March 19, when plain-clothed officers assigned to NYPD Transit District 11 spotted a 31-year-old man smoking what they believed to be K2 synthetic marijuana inside the Fordham Road subway station at around 7:10 p.m. on March 19. However, when officers confronted the man they discovered he was wanted for a domestic assault and was carrying a firearm.
“When we were searching him for inventory purposes, we found a firearm in his book bag,” arresting Officer Richard Acevedo, told amNewYork Metro.
Captain Melissa Baylor, commanding officer of NYPD Transit District 11, said that her officers have already taken several guns out of the subway system city this year already, believing that this has saved lives.
The recovered gun.Photo courtesy of the NYPDCaptain Melissa Baylor (left) Officer Richard Acevedo (right)Photo by Dean Moses
“The perception is that the subways are unsafe, and we’re trying to change that perception to make sure that the riders feel a sense of safety,” Captain Baylor said.
Earlier that afternoon, in Lower Manhattan, plain-clothed cops for Transit District 2 at the West 4th Street station in Greenwich Village said they eyed a man allegedly dealing drugs by the staircase of the train stop at 4:41 p.m. on March 19.
“We saw an individual who was constantly engaging individuals and providing narcotics in the form of a capsule. We observed multiple exchanges of narcotics for currency,” Officer Anton Gojcevic recalled. “At that point we recovered over 36 packages of alleged crack cocaine in the form of capsules. We recovered a dagger from his person, which he stated he uses for his protection.”
Fellow transit cop Reynaldo Roman stated that while he is pleased he was able to recover a potentially life-ending weapon, he also says it is important to ensure drugs are not being distributed in the subways.
Officers Anton Gojcevic and Reynaldo Roman. Photo by Dean MosesThe revierde drugs and knife.Photo courtesy of the NYPD
“We have people that come from out of the city, you have tourists here from all over the world. They’re stepping over used needles, they’re stepping over bags of drugs, they’re walking with their kids, like, that’s not the image we want of our city,” Roman said. “It is our job to combat that.”
Finally, police in Midtown said they were also able to stop a fare evader on Tuesday who was wanted for a robbery earlier in the month and, incredibly, was found wearing the luxury watch he had stolen.
According to Police Officer Lennoxann Samerson, she was patrolling the 42nd Street and 8th Avenue entrance to the Times Square station at around 4:30 p.m. on March 19, when she spied a 21-year-old man illegally entering via the emergency gate.
“He didn’t want to provide identification so based on his behavior — he was acting disorderly — we brought him into the station house where he was subsequently arrested. We found that he had an open warrant,” Samerson said.
The recovered watch.Photo Courtesy of NYPD
The man was wanted for robbing a watch worth $3000 on March 13 after he arranged to buy the wrist wear only to use pepper spray to steal the item. When Samerson took the man into custody he was still wearing the watch and even had a stolen MacBook on him and pepper spray.
Officer Samerson said the items will be returned to their owners.
“It’s a very good feeling. Two people are going to get their property back,” Samerson said.
These cases probably won’t make an impact in the ongoing debate over the NYPD’s efforts underground. Criminal justice advocates have expressed concern that the concentration on minor crimes would lead to unequal policing and discrimination.
Samerson, however, stressed that the NYPD is tactful in its efforts to stop fare evaders.
“You know, we’ll stop a lot of people and great majority of them are let go without a fine or any arrest. We just have a conversation with them, and we let them go we,” Samerson said. “We try to sift through the ones who have you certain behaviors or different factors that indicate to us that they’re there for other reasons than just to travel. … We don’t penalize the poor when we enforce theft of service. We exercise a lot of discretion. We speak to people, very often we allows them to go.”
Brooklyn police have reportedly engaged in an armed standoff with a suspect, shooting them and injuring a bystander in the process, sources familiar with the incident have reported.
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
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Brooklyn police engaged in an armed standoff with a suspect on Monday that ended with officers opening fire — shooting them and injuring a bystander in the process, sources familiar with the incident reported.
According to preliminary details, police engaged a gunman on 57th Street and Remsen Avenue in East Flatbush at around 5:50 p.m. on March 18.
Cops apparently shot an armed man after exchanging gunfire. A civilian was also reportedly struck, during the hail of shots.
Brooklyn police have reportedly engaged in an armed standoff with a suspect, shooting them and injuring a bystander in the process, sources familiar with the incident have reported.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
“All I heard was, pow, pow, pow and then a loud scream,” local Richard Anderson said.
The condition of both victims are unclear at this point, however, the officers are said to be unharmed.
Police officials are expected to hold a press conference within the coming hours.
This is a breaking news story, check back for further updates
Brooklyn police have reportedly engaged in an armed standoff with a suspect, shooting them and injuring a bystander in the process, sources familiar with the incident have reported.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
BROOKLYN, New York (WABC) — The NYPD have released video showing a lieutenant and fellow officer help save a 25-year-old woman from jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge on Wednesday.
Lieutenant Hak Kim and officer Brendan Giardino were called to the bridge around 3:52 p.m. responding to reports of the female walking across the beam from the Brooklyn Bridge toward the cables in an attempt to jump.
Both officers were able to establish dialogue with the woman, while Kim climbed the bridge letting the woman know she was not alone, according to police.
“My name is Lieutenant Kim, okay? I don’t know what kind of trouble you’re having, what kind of problem you’re going through. We’re gonna help you out. Save your life — it’s not worth it,” he said, “Trust me, I got three kids…I don’t know if you have a id. We care about you, okay? Don’t do this.”
Lieutenant Kim said that being a father of three, it was hard to see a person in distress and in crisis. He says up until that moment, she was not responding to his pleas. He wanted to let the woman know she was not alone. When he mentioned his family, she finally broke through. The woman gave her na,e and age.
Officer Giardino held his lieutenant steady as he started to scale the bridge from the roadway — a 25-foot climb on a drenching wet day with no harness.
“It’s a dangerous condition for the fact that there’s vehicles traveling on the roadway and that there’s also heavy rain that day to make the steel platform slippery,” Giardino said.
Once Lieutenant Kim finally got the woman to engage in a conversation, he got close enough and grabbed her leg after almost a half an hour talking her off the ledge.
“It’s a good feeeling. It’s moreso for her. We do care about the community. We wanna make sure everybody gets home safely,” said Officer Giardino.
The woman was taken to Woodhull Hospital for evaluation.
If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or worried about a friend or loved one, help is available. Call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text TALK to 741-741 or visit 988lifeline.org/ for free confidential emotional support 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Even if it feels like it, you are not alone.
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A man was shot and killed by NYPD officers in Queens after he stabbed his with a knife inside an apartment, then charged at officers, according to police and law enforcement sources.
Police responded to a call about an assault in progress inside an apartment building on 62nd Avenue in Rego Park just before 7 p.m. Friday, police said during a news conference. The officers saw a 46-year-old man armed with a knife on the second floor of the building, who then allegedly charged at them.
The sergeant hit the man with his taser, while two other officers fired their guns, according to police. About four gunshots were fired in all.
The man, who has not been identified, was taken to the hospital, where he died.
It is believed that the man had used the knife he was holding to stab a woman, who law enforcement sources said was his wife, in the stomach. She was being treated for at least two stab wounds; law enforcement sources said she suffered critical injuries, but is expected to survive.
The who encounter took place during a family gathering with children present, according to police.
CHELSEA, Manhattan (WABC) — A man is in stable condition after being slashed on a subway train on Friday night.
The attack happened around 11 p.m. after the man got on a northbound A train at 14th Street.
The NYPD says there was a verbal dispute before the suspect pulled out a knife. The 27-year-old victim put his hand up to block the attack and was slashed in the left hand.
The victim got off the train at 34th Street Penn Station and notified police of the assault. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital.
Police say the victim and the suspect are strangers, and it is unclear what the dispute was about.
The suspect is described as a male in his 20s or 30s with a dark complexion.
The attack comes at the heel of two other recent subway attacks.
On Friday afternoon, a 60-year-old man was stabbed in the abdomen on a southbound No. 4 train at 167th Street in the Bronx.
Earlier in the week, a subway conductor was slashed in the neck after sticking his head out of a train at a Brooklyn subway station on Thursday morning. The conductor needed 34 stitches to close up his wound.
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NEW YORK (WABC) — Widespread AT&T outages have been impacting customers nationwide, but the NYPD said that 911 is operating normally and was not affected by the major outage early Thursday morning.
But just like everyone else, police department phones on AT&T service were disrupted.
Between 5:15 a.m. and 6:15 a.m., the department’s AT&T phones were not able to make calls or utilize email. The phones operated when connected to Wi-Fi.
Suffolk County put out a preemptive post on the cellphone outage, telling residents to text 911 if there is a problem. But there were no 911 problems reported in Suffolk County either.
The city’s Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications cyber command is monitoring the AT&T situation and say that as of now, city services are continuing.
AT&T runs the FirstNet network that remained up the entire time. FirstNet provides coverage for first responders and is advertised as a more robust network than the AT&T commercial network.
It uses a mix of its own infrastructure plus AT&T’s broader network. Its customers include police and fire departments, as well as first responders during natural disasters.
“I spoke to the NYPD, NYPD says they are getting their calls into 911, including from AT&T customers. That’s what they know about, what’s working,” Intelligence Analyst John Miller explained. “There is no way to gauge who is not getting through. They also say their systems, their phones are working.”
Miller explained that AT&T is interesting among the characters because it runs FirstNet.
“So even in a crisis, even when things aren’t supposed to have priority. So first responders and emergency services can communicate in a crisis,” Miller said. “According to NYPD at least, that’s working. I spoke to an FBI, their cyber people are monitoring this, but they don’t know that there is anything nefarious going on. It’s just something they would monitor.”
Additionally, both Verizon and T-Mobile say they are completely unaffected. The DownDetector website did report outages for both services, but neither had them. instead, their customers were likely reporting problems reaching AT&T customers
“We did not experience an outage,” T-Mobile said in a statement. “Our network is operating normally.”
“Verizon’s network is operating normally,” Verizon also said. “Some customers experienced issues this morning when calling or texting with customers served by another carrier. We are continuing to monitor the situation.”
Verizon believes the nationwide outage involving AT&T customers “is close to being resolved,” according to a Verizon spokesman.
T-Mobile and Verizon said their networks were unaffected by AT&T’s service outage and customers reporting outages may have been unable to reach customers who use AT&T.
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An ex-NYPD cop fired last year for pulling his gun during an argument over a parking space has now been busted for vehicular manslaughter on Long Island, authorities said Monday.
Aaron Cooper, 26, was charged Saturday with manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter and DWI for a blood alcohol level of .018, according to court papers.
Cooper, who admitted he had been drinking, was speeding in a 2023 Toyota on Rosedale Road near Lawrence Court in Valley Stream when he crossed the double yellow line and hit a curb and pole about 4:30 a.m., police say. His car flipped over from the impact, killing his passenger, Pablo Rivera, 22, of Valley Stream.
Cooper, who lives in Lindenhurst, was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital. Rivera died at the scene.
Cooper was arrested in Queens in July 2021 for gun possession, criminal mischief and harassment after allegedly arguing off-duty with a man over a parking spot and pulling his gun. An NYPD source said he was fired last year.
