New York City police fatally shot a man on Friday morning after he climbed onto the cables of the Brooklyn Bridge and advanced towards officers while holding a knife, according to New York police department officials.
A 911 call was received at approximately 3:28 am on Friday, reporting a man walking on the bridge's beams. Officers from the NYPD’s emergency service unit (ESU) responded and found the man on the cables.
ESU officers climbed the cables and attempted to engage in a verbal dialogue with the man for nearly an hour, trying to persuade him to descend safely. During this time, officers observed he was holding a knife. The man reportedly told officers, "I want to die, I want you to kill me. I have a bomb."
Despite repeated commands to drop the knife, the man began to quickly descend the cable towards the officers, who were clipped to the bridge and positioned below him. When the man was within approximately three feet of an officer, he raised his arm with the knife extended. An ESU officer on the roadbed of the bridge then discharged his weapon once, striking the man.
The man was brought down from the cable, received aid, and was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. A knife and a flashlight were recovered from the scene. The entire incident was recorded on police-worn body cameras, and an internal investigation is underway.