NYPD Officers Shoot Knife-Wielding Man In NYC

NEW YORK CITY — Police fatally shot a knife-wielding man in Queens early Monday morning.

The incident happened around 6:30 a.m. at the intersection of 30th Avenue and 31st Street in Astoria, police said.

Officers who responded to the scene encountered a 61-year-old man who was allegedly holding a 14-inch kitchen knife.

NYPD officers first tried to tase the man, but it proved to be ineffective, according to Chief of Department John Chell.

Police officials said the officers engaged in a 56-second dialogue with the man, who was in mental distress, and asked him to drop the knife.

The suspect then advanced toward the officers, who shot him.

The 61-year-old man was transported to Elmhurst Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

"Any time the NYPD interacts with someone in mental distress, we attempt to slow down and deescalate with the situation with the ultimate goal of getting the person the help they need," Chell said. "However, during fast moving and hectic situations with armed persons, we are forced to defend ourselves."

The knife was recovered at the scene.

The entire incident was captured both on the officers’ body-worn cameras and surveillance footage from a local business, Chell said.

The suspect's identity has not been released yet.