NYPD officers fatally shot a 54-year-old man Sunday afternoon when he approached them with a large butcher knife in a Lower East Side apartment building.
The incident unfolded shortly after 4 p.m. at 126 Ludlow Street. Officers responded to several 911 calls reporting an assault in progress. Upon entering the building, they discovered a blood trail leading up a staircase, according to NYPD Assistant Chief Melissa Eger.
As the officers ascended the stairs, 54-year-old Wei Chan descended toward them, wielding a large butcher knife. Eger stated that officers repeatedly ordered Chan to show his hands and drop the weapon. Despite these commands, Chan continued to advance, prompting the officers to open fire.
“Officers repeated multiple commands for the male to show his hands in an effort for him to drop the weapon,” said Eger. “As officers issued repeated commands, the male continued to advance towards the officers armed with the large butcher knife.”
Wei Chan was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Assistant Chief Eger noted Chan had no known criminal history with the department but did have a documented mental health history.
Inside the building, officers found Wei Chan’s 75-year-old father, Cheung Chan, with a head laceration caused by his son before police arrived. Cheung Chan received hospital treatment and is expected to survive.
The responding officers underwent evaluation at a hospital. Eger highlighted their bravery, saying, “Their actions are a reminder of how officers run towards danger and not away from it.”
Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed Sunday that the incident would be part of an internal investigation. He assured that body-camera footage would be released as part of the probe, stating, “As with every incident in which NYPD officers discharge their weapons, there will be an internal investigation, and body-worn camera footage of the incident will be released.”
The investigation into the events surrounding the shooting continues.