Video Shows Saheed Vassell Waving Pipe Before Being Shot By Cops

CROWN HEIGHTS, NY — Police released video footage of Saheed Vassell pointing a metal pipe at pedestrians in the moments before he was shot and killed by police officers on a Crown Heights intersection Wednesday evening.

Video shows Vassell, a 34-year-old father who reportedly suffered from bipolar disorder, whipping out a metal pipe that witnesses and police officers mistook for a gun, said NYPD officials.

Police also released written excerpts from three 911 calls, which came in at about 4:40 p.m., that reported Vassell, 34, was waving a gun at people walking on the street near Montgomery Street and Utica Avenue.

"There is a guy in a brown jacket walking around pointing — I don't know," one caller said. "They say it's a gun, it's silver."

"He looks like he's crazy but he's pointing something at people that looks like a gun," said another caller. "He's like popping it off as if like if he's pulling a trigger."

The final moments of the video show Vassell planting his feet, extending his arms, and pointing the pipe toward officers who were about to fire 10 fatal shots in his direction, said police.

"At this point," the video subtitle tells viewers, "responding officers discharged their weapons."

The video ends before Vassell is shot and cuts to the transcript of a conversation between another 911 caller and the dispatcher.

"He has a gun ma'am?" The dispatcher asks.

"Yes," the caller replies.

"Where is the gun? Where is it?"

"In his hand."

Police released the video following an outcry from local activists, many of whom plan to rally on the corner where Vassell was shot Thursday night, and an announcement from Attorney General Eric Schneiderman that his office would investigate the shooting.

Mayor Bill de Blasio responded with a promise that the city would be "as transparent as we can" and emphasized the role that Vassell's mental health played in elevating the situation.

"This is someone who had a profound mental health problem, was not on medication, hadn’t been on medication," said de Blasio. "These tragedies can be averted if we get people the help they need.”

Video and photo courtesy of the NYPD