At around 5:30 a.m. Sunday, a man entered the 73rd Precinct in Brownsville, Brooklyn, through an employee entrance, as reported by NYPD Chief of Patrol Philip Rivera during a press briefing. When a female officer stopped him and instructed him to exit through the front door, the suspect quickly pulled out a large butcher knife and slashed her in the face. The officer managed to fend off the man, but he escaped through the back of the precinct, evading a taser used by an officer. The fleeing suspect was pursued by several officers, who ordered him to drop the weapon. Despite repeated commands, the man did not comply, leading to a confrontation where multiple officers opened fire, striking him multiple times. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital, with the 14-inch blade recovered at the scene.
The officer who was slashed in the face was treated at a hospital, where she is recovering and in “good spirits,” according to Rivera. The incident has sparked discussions about the dangers faced by law enforcement in daily operations, with Rivera emphasizing that “This situation could have turned out very differently.” Investigators have identified the suspect tentatively, though the details are not yet public. The case remains under investigation as authorities continue to evaluate the circumstances surrounding the attack. Additionally, other recent incidents in New York City, including six people shot and one slashed during a parade, have brought attention to the city’s ongoing violence problems, highlighting the need for increased public safety measures.