NYPD Shoot, Kill Man Near Times Square
Sunday, August 12, 2012 - 06:55 AM
NYPD in Times Square
(Stephen Nessen/WNYC)
The police shot and killed a man in Midtown Manhattan just blocks from Times Square.
The man was identified as Darrius Kennedy of Hempstead, N.Y., and a native of South Carolina. Police said the encounter began Saturday around 3 p.m. when an officer approached Kennedy, who was smoking marijuana near the military recruiting station in Times Square, around West 44th Street and Seventh Avenue.
Kennedy became agitated, pulled out an 11-inch knife and began to put a bandanna on his head, police said. He refused repeated orders to drop the weapon and began backing down the avenue, continuing for a number of blocks and drawing many officers into a slow-speed pursuit that took them south of Times Square.
He was pepper sprayed six times, but still refused to drop the knife, according to police. After the man lunged at two other responding officers, they opened fire striking him in the chest.
He was taken to Bellevue Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Witnesses recalled a chaotic scene in which some bystanders took cover, while others began following the procession down the avenue in an attempt to capture cellphone video of it. On video obtained by NY1 cable news station, a number of officers, guns drawn, can be seen pursuing the man as he appears to skip down Seventh Avenue.
"He was swinging at people as he ran," Jobby Nogver, a 17-year-old visiting from Boston, told The New York Times. Nogver watched as police surrounded the man and fired. "I can't tell you how many shots," he said.
Priscilla Rocha, a tourist from Brazil, was visiting Times Square with her husband when they saw the confrontation.
"I almost had a heart attack," she told the Times. "Everyone started running."
With the Associated Press
Comments [26]
For those who wonder why the police did not shoot for an arm or leg, I think police are trained to shoot for the core of the body. It's a larger target and more likely to stop an assailant. Another thing to consider is Times Square is a very busy urban location and there is always the risk of crossfire, ricochet, etc. Most citizens want officers aiming for the location where they have the greatest chance of hitting and stopping the violent criminal.
The Anger from many of you is misdirected. It took too long because there aren't enough police on the streets. Wait wait wait, while perps shoot at Police, wait wait wait while rapist rape unprotected ( Middle and Lower Class ) neighborhoods. 55000 police officers patroled the streets and the Housing and transit Properties Now Barely 300000, while Brass and electedd officials squash crimes to keep the stats low. Get it right.
Thank you for share this post
something ISN'T right with this story. NYPD should've just hit the guy with a tazer and disabled him, then arrested him. 10 shots? Are you kidding me? Who's the criminal here? Bloomberg and Kelly have given the cops permission to kill for any reason they deem necessary.
Have you seen how many cops commit crimes, off duty? They think they can get away with anything, and often do.
Especially ON duty. Bloomberg and Kelly need to go, and a new mayor who's more sensitive to the fact that NYPD should not and will not have carte blanche to kill. NEver.
Jagger had it right, 'every cop is a criminal, every sinner a saint'.
Here's the YouTube video of the NYPD taking out that worthless perp:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbLUi-JMFsQ
Thank you Mayor Bloomberg for keeping our streets safe from these lowlifes.
Something is not right in this story why did it take so long to shoot the guy. They risked allowing the guy to run punching people someone could have gotten hurt. They should have busted a cap on his as$&-/s.
Bloomberg should resign
Apparently the next thing they're taking out is him that perpetrates the illiterate comment.
That's because dead guys can't sue the police department
Wake up people! The time's comming were you will be shot for speeding!
it was being stupid or retarted to bring a knife to a gun fight not being high be carefull how propaganda starts Ive seen ya'lls posts, it speaks for itself, again its not being high but bee'n stupid or mentally challenged new york got hit by terrorists they are not going to back down in law inforcement all of ya'll shuld know that man quit blamming weed its not an exuse for being ignorant its just ignorant and high bad combo
Agreed, something is wrong with this story.... How come police never shoot in the legs or shoulder? How come so many policemen cannot neutralize 1 lunatic without bloodshed? How come it feels like policemen are so eager to shoot a "bad guy"? Aren't they tired to carry a cowboy reputation?
I always wonder why they can't just injure him? Shoot him in the leg. Why do cops have to shoot to kill? While killing cuts down on medical expenses and criminal prosecution costs, one would think that a life is more valuable. My guess is that he was smoking weed laced with PCP. I did like the taser thought.
Thank God for good government, no telling who the whacko would have attacked if NYPD hadnt, get real folks!
Luckily they didn't use a tazer or rubber bullets. Only real bullets can take down someone with a kitchen knife. Thank god for the boys in blue.
I frequnt new york and am allways there from philly traveling through manhetten and the other bouroughs. My comment to the new york shooting at times square is that they did there job well.They came him several oppurtunities to put down the weapon,he refused then took off runing while waving the knife at innocent people and tourist.They did their job,if someone would have got stabbed,1st thing folks will say is,all theses police around why did'nt they do something before he actually stabbed some innocent person?
Poor guy must've been from out of state. NY cops have a reputation for manufacturing offenses in order to snag out-of-staters. Quite happily I will NEVER set foot in NY again. Ever!
None of these gun sligging law inforcement officers had a taser..!This is another case were there was a total disrespect for human life!I'm telling you I'm more afraid of law inforcement then anybody! Who's the criminals?
wow ,those cops are are my heroes ; they are there to serve and protect. That is, serve the DEVIL.
Mark, Your comment is absolutely hilarious. You really think tough NY gun laws prevented this idiot from having a gun? He sounds like a doped-up jerk who couldn't afford one. In case you haven't noticed, criminals don't follow the law so anti-gun laws have zero effect on them. NY has a HUGE problem with criminals and guns, the anti-gun NY laws only prevent the law-abiding citizens from carrying one (they're the ones that DO follow the law)
Something does not feel right about this report...surely the shooting and killing of a man could have been avoided. I cannot believe that several armed police could not have detained the man (armed simply with a knife). What about shooting him in the leg or using another tactic like a tazor?
Good police work! Hey, now can I get a Big Gulp?
Thanks to the NYPD another looney is no longer a threat to society. Making swiss cheese out of a criminal is what needs to be done more often instead of costing the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars to process through the system. BRAVO!!!!
Something about this story is not right...
Luckily New York has strict gun laws, just imagine if that guy had a semi-automatic rifle!
Does this mean, that they won't still try to legalize Marijuana?
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