Tragic Incident in Transit
In a fluorescent-lit meeting room of a Brownsville apartment complex, several dozen residents gathered for the monthly meeting of the 73rd Precinct Community Council last Thursday evening, a week and a half after two of its officers had opened fire in a busy L-train subway station severely injuring two bystanders in pursuit of a man who had entered without paying the fare and while holding a knife.
But scant reference was made at the monthly meeting open to the public of the shooting at the hands of police on the midday Sutter Avenue train platform. Instead, there were polite rounds of applause for mentions of recent backpack giveaways, a successful national night out on crime, ghost cars officers had towed, and new initiatives like ticketing school kids for vaping.
Commanding Officer Captain Odelle Despot called the Sept. 15 NYPD-involved subway shooting tragic, but declined to comment further citing pending investigations, Sept. 26, 2024.
‘You Have To Shoot Me’
The council meeting came 12 days after two 73rd Precinct NYPD officers – Edmund Mays and Alex Wong – opened fire on a subway platform while pursuing Derrell Mickles, who’d entered the elevated station without paying the fare and while holding a knife.
Mickles told the officers to either go away or shoot him. The officers had pursued him into the car of an arriving train, where they’d fired Tasers at him that had failed to stun him as he pulled out the prongs. The officers firing their guns struck three people in addition to Mickles, including two bystanders. One of the officers also shot the other. Mickles, 37, was shot in the stomach.
A Tragic Incident
The incident sparked several days of protests and subsequent police crackdowns and has drawn fierce rebuke from left-leaning lawmakers, including Comptroller Brad Lander, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, as well as the families and friends of the bystanders injured in the gunfire.
Charges and Investigations
Ahead of his historic federal indictment on five corruption charges, Mayor Eric Adams and top NYPD officials repeatedly defended and even praised the police response.
Conclusion
The tragic incident in transit highlights the need for transparency and accountability in law enforcement. The shooting has sparked a heated debate about police procedures and the use of force. As the investigation continues, it is essential that the community is kept informed and that those responsible for the shooting are held accountable.
FAQs
Q: What happened during the shooting?
A: Two NYPD officers opened fire on a subway platform while pursuing a man who had entered the station without paying the fare and was holding a knife. The officers fired their guns, striking three people, including two bystanders, and the man they were pursuing.
Q: Who was injured in the shooting?
A: Two bystanders, a 37-year-old man and a 49-year-old man, were shot and injured in the incident. The 37-year-old man was shot in the stomach, and the 49-year-old man was shot in the head.
Q: What charges have been filed against the suspect?
A: The suspect, Derrell Mickles, has been indicted on charges of attempted aggravated assault of a police officer with a deadly weapon, assault with intent to cause injury, second-degree assault, menacing, theft of service, and attempted assault.
Q: What is the status of the investigation?
A: The investigation is ongoing, and the NYPD is working to determine whether the use of force was justified.
