'Suicide By Cop' Attempt Led To Shooting, Officer In ICU: YPD

YONKERS, NY — Police officials said today that the man shot by police intentionally contrived a confrontation with officers as a means to harm himself. A police officer remains in the ICU after falling over a railing and landing on the floor below.

Shortly after noon on Monday, Yonkers police answered a 911 emergency call about a man waving a gun and threatening people. Officers approached a man on the third floor of a downtown apartment building, eventually resulting in a suspect being shot in the leg by police.

Investigators say when officers made initial contact with the man, he shouted that he had a gun. It is also believed, based on an interview with the subject, that his intent was to commit suicide-by-cop. Police said he used a cell phone and another object to fashion a crude imitation pistol that he may have displayed to responding officers.

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The initial 911 call was made from a cell phone belonging to the subject, according to police officials.

During the confrontation at the residential building on Main Street, an officer fell from the third-floor landing to the second-floor landing approximately ten feet below, resulting in serious injuries to his head, back and spine.

At least three police officers discharged their weapons in the direction of the subject, striking him one time in the calf. Both the subject and injured officer were taken to hospitals and are listed in stable condition.

“Everyday, police officers in this country respond to thousands of incidents that have the potential for use of deadly force and are called upon to deal with any number of issues, increasingly with people in crisis," Police Commissioner John Mueller said in a statement released on Tuesday. "Upholding the sanctity of life remains paramount; thankfully in this incident the injuries are not life-threatening. We are committed to a thorough and transparent review of yesterday’s events.”

Police are investigating the possibility that the suspect may have been experiencing mental health issues prior to this event and because of this, his identity is being withheld. He is identified only as a 24-year-old resident of the building.

The suspect is in police custody with charges pending.

Members and supervisors with the Major Case Squad and Internal Affairs Division are actively involved in this investigation in conjunction with the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, according to Mueller. All findings will be shared with the District Attorney’s Office and their Public Integrity Bureau and may be made public when available, police officials said.