A New York City police officer was struck by friendly fire while attempting to subdue a knife-wielding suspect at a Brooklyn train station on Sept. 15, 2024. Body camera footage released by the NYPD shows Officers Edmund Mays and Alex Wong confronting the suspect, 37-year-old Derrell Mickles, after he jumped a subway turnstile.
The incident unfolded at the Sutter Avenue L Train Station, where Mickles reentered the station through an exit gate, clutching a knife behind his back. The officers pursued Mickles to the train platform and demanded that he drop the weapon. Mickles refused, challenging the officers to shoot him and continuing to defy their commands.
Mickles then tried to flee, prompting the officers to fire their weapons. Officer Wong discharged six rounds, while Officer Mays fired three. During the gunfire, Officer Mays was accidentally shot. He can be heard on video saying, “I’m shot.”
In addition to Mays, two bystanders were also injured during the confrontation. All three received medical treatment at local hospitals, and none of the injuries were life-threatening.
Mickles, who was still holding his knife after being shot, was disarmed when Officer Mays kicked the weapon away from him. Mickles was subsequently arrested and charged with several crimes, including attempted assault, menacing of a police officer, and criminal possession of a weapon.
The NYPD has praised the quick response of the officers but acknowledged the risks involved in such volatile situations. The footage highlights the dangers that law enforcement officers face, especially when dealing with armed suspects in public spaces.
