Investigation launched after police shoot man in Bronx stairwell

In New York City, a police shooting incident occurred in the Bronx on a Sunday evening around 6 p.m. Officers responded to a 911 call regarding a stolen air conditioner in an apartment building located at 335 West 148th St. Upon arrival, the officers were unable to locate the apartment in question and proceeded to explore the building. In a rapid turn of events, they encountered a 32-year-old man holding a kitchen knife as he approached them up the stairwell. The police officers, upon spotting him, verbally instructed him to stop and drop the knife, indicating their request by raising a hand. However, the man disregarded these commands and continued his approach towards the officers while brandishing the weapon. In what was described as a fast-moving situation lasting only a few seconds, one officer, feeling threatened, discharged her firearm, striking him in the torso. The man who was shot had initially called 911 to report the air conditioning theft, which raises questions about the events that transpired before the officer's decision to fire. After the shooting, he was transported to Lincoln Hospital, where he is listed in stable condition. Investigators are looking into whether there was a language barrier involved; the man speaks Spanish, and efforts are underway to determine if he adequately understood the officers' commands. The incident has sparked a range of reactions from residents in the building, where some reported frequent thefts, while others characterized the building as secure. The shooting was also caught on the officers’ body-worn cameras, and although security footage exists, it does not fully capture the interaction leading up to the shooting. The investigation is ongoing as the police department seeks clarity on the sequence of events that led to this dramatic confrontation.