Two bystanders struck by NYPD cops opening fire on suspect near Times Square privateofficer New York NY Sept 16 2013 Two NYPD cops opened fire at a deranged man a block from Times Square — as he pretended to point a gun at them — but instead struck a pair of innocent bystanders Saturday night, police said. The 35-year-old man was behaving wildly in the middle of W. 42nd St. at Eighth Ave. about 9:36 p.m. when he was confronted by the officers, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said. As officers tried to corral the hulking wacko, he suddenly “reached into his pocket, took out his hand, and simulated as if he was shooting at them,” Kelly said. One officer fired a single shot at the man but missed. The second officer squeezed off two rounds that also went wayward, Kelly said. A 54-year-old woman who uses a walker was struck in the lower right leg and rushed to Bellevue Hospital. A 35-year-old woman suffered a graze wound to the buttocks and was transported to Roosevelt Hospital. The man, who was not identified, was arrested. He was unarmed when he was taken into custody. “The only thing the individual had on his person was a wallet which was recovered from his right rear pocket,” Kelly said. The bizarre encounter just outside the Port Authority Bus Terminal took place after the man started stumbling around in the middle of Eighth Ave., Kelly said. “This individual was blocking traffic and appeared to be attempting to be hit by cars when a police officer on foot patrol attempted to take him into custody in the intersection,” Kelly said. Witness Mike Favilla told The News cops opened fire after the man put his hand into his pocket, pulled out a MetroCard and pointed it at the officers like it was gun. “He aimed it at the cop,” said Favilla, 33, of Elmhurst, Queens. “He was pretending like he had a gun.” Favilla said the man appeared unhinged. “He definitely looked like he was high on something or was mentally off. He couldn’t walk in a straight line. He was limping and jerking his legs around.” A grainy video posted on YouTube shows two officers pointing their guns at the man as he weaves in and out of traffic. Then three shots are heard, and people on the crowded sidewalk start running for cover. “Don’t shoot him no more!” a witness screamed. A video obtained by the Daily News appeared to capture the tail end of the chaotic exchange. source-nydailynews
Posted on: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 11:40:54 +0000
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