Police opened fire on a subway platform in Brooklyn during a confrontation with an alleged fare-beater, striking the man cops said was armed with a knife, two straphangers caught in the fray, and one of the firing officers, NYPD officials said Sunday.

One of those two passengers hit by the cops’ bullets, a 49-year-old man, was hospitalized in critical condition after he was hit struck in the head, according to the NYPD.

The two officers who opened fire were assigned to patrol the Sutter Avenue subway stop in the 73rd precinct when they spotted a man skip the station turnstile and walk through an open gate toward the train platform, Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey explained at an evening press conference from Brookdale Hospital.

  • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.worldOP
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    3 months ago

    the police can’t really just let him get on a train

    If they had, three people would have avoided bullet wounds and one of them wouldn’t be in the ER right now.

    it’s not that crazy to taser a guy who just got onto a train

    If you’ve ever ridden the subway in NYC, particularly during rush hour, the idea of firing a taser into a train full of people is absolutely crazy.

    • masterspace@lemmy.ca
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      3 months ago

      If they had, three people would have avoided bullet wounds and one of them wouldn’t be in the ER right now.

      And maybe a bunch of people would have been stabbed by the guy with a knife who just threatened to kill someone.

      If you’ve ever ridden the subway in NYC, particularly during rush hour, the idea of firing a taser into a train full of people is absolutely crazy.

      Again, they could be lying about the knife and the threat, but if he did have a knife and just threaten to kill someone it would be absolutely crazy to let him get on a subway train full of people.

        • masterspace@lemmy.ca
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          3 months ago

          Oooh what a cool edge lord. You’ve definitely thought this through.

          The public praises the police when they stand around and let an armed man be well enough alone in a group of civilians! Everyone loves it when police do that right?

          Like Jesus fucking Christ, what would you do? Leave a guy with a knife getting onto a crowded train and have two dozen people stabbed? It is naiive to think that there was a good outcome possible once you start making police bust fare skipping, but it is also absurdly naiive to think that the police can let a man with a knife get onto a New York train with just a ‘hey, try not to stab anyone’.