Key facts
- Police fatally shot a knife-wielding man on the Brooklyn Bridge cables.
- The man ignored orders to drop his weapon and approached an officer.
- The man told police he wanted to be killed and claimed to have a bomb.
- Officers attempted de-escalation for about an hour before the shooting.
- The incident closed the bridge and caused traffic disruptions.
Police fatally shot a knife-wielding man on the cables of the Brooklyn Bridge on Friday after he refused to drop his weapon and advanced on an officer. The incident, which occurred four days after a woman fatally stabbed two people in Times Square before being shot by police, led to the closure of the bridge and significant traffic delays.
Authorities stated the man, whose name was not released, told the Emergency Services Unit rescue team that he wanted them to kill him and that he had a bomb. Officers spent approximately an hour attempting to de-escalate the situation, attaching safety harnesses and urging him to come down. The man began to descend a cable rapidly, moving towards the officers below.
When the man came within three feet of an officer with his knife extended, one officer on the roadbed discharged his weapon, striking the man. He was brought down, received aid, and later died at a hospital. Police recovered a knife and a flashlight, and an investigation into the bomb claim is ongoing. Body camera footage recorded the encounter.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed police responded to a 911 call about a man appearing to attempt suicide by jumping from the bridge. He stated the man threatened officers before moving toward them, prompting the shooting. Police had previously highlighted the Emergency Service Unit's capabilities in high-angle rescues and de-escalation, including a successful rescue on the bridge in July.