Man Shot By Police In Harlem Whole Foods Charged, NYPD Says

HARLEM, NY — The man shot by police in a Harlem Whole foods Saturday night is facing criminal charges, an NYPD spokesman said.

Michael Vasquez, 28, was charged with attempted assault on a police officer, criminal possession of a weapon and petit larceny, police said. Police shot Vasquez inside the West 125th Street and Lenox Avenue grocery store after he allegedly lunged at officers with a knife, police said.

Officers responded to the grocery store around 8:30 p.m. Saturday after receiving reports of a shoplifter in the store who was acting violently, NYPD Assistant Chief Kathleen O'Reilly said the night of the shooting. Vasquez became "increasingly agitated" when officers arrived and attempted to engage him, O'Reilly said.

Vasquez pulled a knife and began to charge at one of the officers, O'Reilly said. The officers commanded the man to drop the knife, but he continued charging, police said. One officer fired his gun twice at the man, striking him once, police said.

The man was taken to Harlem Hospital and is in stable condition, police said. Several police officers were taken to St. Luke's Hospital for observation, police said. It was unclear if any officers were injured.

Lead photo by Patch