Officer-Involved Shooting Of 'Emotionally Disturbed Person' Being Investigated In Mount Vernon

MOUNT VERNON, NY — A person who barricaded himself in a Westchester home, rather than comply with an involuntary mental heath commitment order, has been shot by police.

On Thursday, around 9:50 p.m., members of the Mount Vernon Police Department's Emergency Services Unit (ESU) responded to serve the mental health commitment order involving an emotionally disturbed person in the area of Columbus Avenue and East 4th Street, according to the department.

ESU officers said they encountered an armed subject who refused to comply with the court order or be taken into custody.

The officers employed non-lethal tools "in an effort to safely gain compliance," but those efforts were unsuccessful.

That person then barricaded himself inside the apartment, according to police. Hostage negotiators and the Mount Vernon Police Department's Wellness Division were then called to the scene.

"For several hours, hostage negotiations, de-escalation techniques, and wellness interventions were utilized in an effort to execute the commitment order," MVPD said in a statement. "Despite these sustained efforts, the individual remained noncompliant. After negotiation efforts were exhausted and threats of self-harm and harm to officers were made, officers obtained a warrant authorizing entry into the apartment."

Police officials said that the shooting happened inside the apartment.

"Upon breaching the residence, ESU officers continued to deploy non-lethal tactics to no avail," Mount Vernon police said. "Despite these efforts, the armed individual continued to pose an imminent threat to himself and responding officers, resulting in an officer discharging their department-issued firearm."

The wounded person was taken to a hospital. The gunshot victim's condition has not been released.

The investigation will be handled by the New York State Police, who have assumed responsibility for the case, according to MVPD. Officials have not yet released the identity of the person shot.