Cops Mistakenly Shoot Two Female Bystanders In Times Square, Suspect Was Unarmed

Cops Mistakenly Shoot Two Female Bystanders In Times Square, Suspect
Was Unarmed



Kerri Ann Nesbeth

Police shot two female bystanders in Times Square last night while
confronting an emotionally disturbed man who “simulated shooting the
officers." A 35-year-old man was acting erratically—weaving in and out
of traffic—in the middle of W. 42nd Street at Eighth Avenue around
9:35 p.m. Saturday night. When cops attempted to detain him, he
suddenly “reached into his pocket, took out his hand, and simulated as
if he was shooting at them,” Commissioner Ray Kelly said. You can see
photos and video of the incident below.

Police said one officer fired one shot, not striking the man. Then
another officer who had responded fired two shots at the man, also not
striking him. Instead, two pedestrians standing on the northeast
corner of 8th Avenue and West 42nd Street were struck. 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 was grazed in her buttocks
and was transported to Roosevelt Hospital.

Witness Mike Favilla told The News that the man took out his Metrocard
and "aimed it at the cop. He was pretending like he had a gun...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.” Kelly added, "The individual was blocking traffic and
appeared to be attempting to be hit by cars."

Kerri Ann Nesbith, who took many of the photos above, said the victim
with the walker had been standing next to her: “Blood was just leaking
out of her pants,” Nesbeth said. “She was crying out in pain and
yelling, ‘Help me!’” “It was unreal,” Favilla added. “I’ve lived in
New York City all my life and I’ve never seen anything like it.”

The man was ultimately brought down with a Taser, and taken to
Bellevue Hospital in custody; he only had his wallet in his
possession. The two officers who fired have 18 months and three years
on the job, and neither had been involved with shootings before.

Video and More Here:

http://gothamist.com/2013/09/15/cops_mistakenly_shoot_two_female_by.php

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