Brooklyn Subway Chaos: Knifeman Sparks Police Shooting, Innocent Bystanders Injured

Police officers at a Brooklyn subway station shot a man threatening them with a knife, leading to four people being wounded, including two innocent bystanders. The incident escalated after the man refused to stop and brandished a knife, resulting in officers firing multiple rounds. A thorough investigation has been promised.

Four individuals were wounded at a Brooklyn subway station on Sunday when police officers opened fire on a man brandishing a knife, inadvertently hitting passengers, authorities reported.

The victims included two innocent bystanders, one of the officers, and the knife-wielding man, who was initially confronted for fare evasion, officials stated.

Among the injured, a 49-year-old male passenger was hospitalized in critical condition after a bullet pierced through a neighboring subway car and struck his head.

A video captured by a passenger depicted chaotic scenes of panicked commuters fleeing, police aiding the injured, and the realization that an officer had also been struck by a bullet.

Interim Police Commissioner Thomas Donlan, appointed only days prior, pledged a comprehensive investigation while attributing blame to the knife-wielding individual.

"Make no mistake, the events today at Sutter Avenue station are due to an armed perpetrator confronted by our officers performing their duties," Donlan stated.

The incident occurred shortly after 3 pm when two officers pursued a man up station steps after observing him entering without paying, according to Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey.

After being asked to stop, the man allegedly threatened the officers, saying, "I'm going to kill you if you don't stop following me," Maddrey reported. Officers then noticed the man had a knife.

The officers followed the man onto a train that had just arrived and attempted to neutralize him using Tasers, which proved ineffective.

When the man advanced on the officers with his knife, both officers discharged their firearms multiple times, striking the individual and unintentionally hitting bystanders.

The 37-year-old man was hit multiple times but remained in stable condition. An officer was also hit, realizing his injury while administering first aid to the suspect.

A 26-year-old woman passenger sustained a graze wound, whereas the wounded officer had a bullet lodged in his back but is expected to recover fully.

Mayor Eric Adams visited the injured officer at the hospital and labeled the fare evader as a "career criminal." Maddrey said the man also had a history of mental illness.

No video footage of the incident was released on Sunday, but the NYPD provided an image showing the suspect holding a knife.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority head Janno Lieber expressed concern for bystanders affected during the incident and emphasized the availability of surveillance cameras at the station.

This occurrence revives memories of past incidents in 2019 when NYPD officers accidentally shot and killed two of their colleagues while confronting crime suspects.

(With inputs from agencies.)