Bodycam Video Shows Moment Cop Shot At Armed Man In Bed-Stuy

BED-STUY, BROOKLYN — Dramatic video released Thursday shows the moment an officer shot at a man who had pointed a gun at her on a Bed-Stuy street corner.

The newly-released body camera footage shows the less than one-minute long interaction between 32-year-old Darrin Samuels and Officer Christina Cannisi, who fired one shot at Samuels after she and several other cops were called to help with a crowd on Myrtle Avenue in the early morning hours of Aug. 2.

The cops had gotten out of their cruiser just after 1:30 a.m. after one officer spotted Samuels, who was fighting with another man on the sidewalk, with a gun in his waistband, according to police.

Samuels picked up his gun and pointed it at Cannisi after falling into the street during the fight, according to police and the video.

"Put it down!" Cannisi yells, drawing her own gun and pointing it at Samuels.

Just seconds later, she fires in his direction.

Samuels, who was not hit by the bullet, then dropped his gun and ran away, police said.

Cops chased after Samuels and arrested him shortly after the shooting, police said.

Samuels had crack cocaine on him and his gun had been reported stolen from South Carolina, police later discovered.

He faces several gun and drug possession charges and menacing a police officer.

The footage is one of several body camera videos that the NYPD has released recently after a new policy requiring the department to release body-worn camera footage to the public after firing a weapon, injuring or killing a civilian was put in place in June.

The body camera footage is reviewed, along with interviews and other evidence, by the Force Investigation Division whenever an officer discharges their weapon or when a person is seriously injured or dies.

Sgt. Carlos Nieves, who narrated the body camera video, said the Bed-Stuy case is still under investigation.

"We do not draw any conclusions about whether an officer's actions were consistent with department policy and the law until all the facts are known," he said.