Man Killed During Standoff With Yonkers Police Identified

YONKERS, NY — Yonkers Police officials believe the subject of an hours-long standoff with law enforcement on Saturday died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The victim has been identified as 50-year-old Peter Kastsaridis of Yonkers.

Because officers exchanged gunfire, police officials say the investigation into the suspected suicide will be handed over to the Westchester County Department of Public Safety in an effort to further the department’s “commitment to openness and transparency.”

“I am incredibly proud of the actions of our Police Officers and Supervisors during this incident – their professionalism and courage in the line-of-fire is why we call them heroes; to confront danger and protect their communities is the highest calling in public service; they serve as examples for us all,” Yonkers Police Commissioner John J. Mueller said in a statement on Sunday. “ As this is an open investigation in regard to our officers being fired upon and returning fire, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety will be the lead agency with respect to the investigation. By having outside agencies review our practices and actions, we reinforce the trust our community has placed in us. I look forward to working with them and reviewing their findings.”

Mueller says Kastsaridis was known to Yonkers police and had an active warrant related to an arrest on March 1. Kastsaridis was taken into custody at the time after allegedly menacing a neighbor with a handgun.

Saturday's standoff ended after the Yonkers Police Emergency Service Unit entered the home where Kastsaridis lived, only to discover he was deceased. Crisis negotiators had not had contact with Kastsaridis for more than two hours before the unit made entry into the residence. It had earlier been determined he was likely alone in the home with a family pet.

The Emergency Service Unit team found Kastsaridis dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot. Police say an assault-style AR-15 weapon was next to his body.

Officers initially approached Kastsaridis at his home on Livingston Avenue as part of a welfare check in response to a report that he had made threats to an insurance company employee. Cops say the situation escalated after Kastsaridis verbally threatened the responding officers. He also reportedly announced that he was armed at this time. Kastsaridis continued to threaten to kill police as the situation developed.

After the officers on the scene called for backup, Kastsaridis fired several shots at police. Police returned fire before cordoning off a one block area surrounding the home. Several streets were closed and power was briefly cut off in the zone while police negotiators attempted to convince Kastsaridis to surrender peacefully. Neighbors were urged to shelter indoors and to avoid outside doors and windows until an “all clear” was issued at 7:48 p.m. Saturday evening.

No police or bystanders were injured in the incident; however, several members of the Department were placed off-duty for evaluation. The pet found at the scene was later returned to family members.