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Knife-Wielding Man Shot Dead by Police in LES: NYPD

Knife-Wielding Man Shot Dead by Police in LES: NYPD

Two officers fatally shot a 32-year-old knife-wielding man in the Lower East Side while responding to a domestic dispute, police say

According to the sources, police were responding to a domestic dispute between two men in an apartment building on Cherry Street around 7 a.m. — not far from the FDR Drive and the Manhattan Bridge.

During a press conference, NYPD Chief Terence Monahan said the 911 caller said his partner was barricading him in a bathroom and was violating an order of protection. When officers arrived at the scene, the 911 caller said his partner was at the rear of the 8th floor apartment. Monahan said officers entered and called out to the second man. He was allegedly found in a closet. 

“The individual at this time was calm and compliant and the officers began to escort him toward the hallway,” Monahan said. “Suddently the individual broke away from the officers, grabbed a large knife from the kitchen area and ran toward the 911 caller.”

The suspect, identified as Joshua Rember Williams, began stabbing the 911 caller with the butcher knife, at which point officers shot him in the torso, Monahan said. The officers immediately began to render aid, calling for an ambulance and performing CPR, Monahan said. Williams was pronounced dead at a local hospital at 8:01 a.m.

The 42-year-old victim was also taken to a hospital and treated for slash wounds to the right side of the face, left shoulder and a puncture wound on the right shoulder. He is in stable condition, Monahan said. 

The officers were wearing body cameras, according Monahan, adding he viewed the video.

According to police, there is a history of domestic violence between the two men and there was issued an order of protection against the deceased man Feb 5. 

The investigation is ongoing, police said. No officers were injured.

Video from Citizen App shows a large police presence and an ambulance arriving at the scene.

Photo Credit: Citizen App

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