The NYPD released bodycam footage of a Jan. 26 incident in a Queens home in which officers say 22-year-old Jabez Chakraborty charged at them with a kitchen knife and was shot four times; he remains in intensive care. The Queens District Attorney's Office is investigating and may pursue charges that could include attempted murder. Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged that Chakraborty receive mental-health treatment rather than criminal prosecution and called for alternative responders on some 911 calls. The family says police escalated the situation and has demanded more footage and that the DA drop prosecutions.
Bodycam Shows NYPD Officer Shooting Knife-Wielding Man in Queens; Mayor Mamdani Urges Mental-Health Care, Not Charges
Newly released NYPD bodycam footage shows an officer shooting a man allegedly carrying a knife during an emergency response inside a Queens home.(Fox News)
The New York City Police Department released body-worn camera footage showing the moment an officer fired at 22-year-old Jabez Chakraborty after officers say he charged at them with a large kitchen knife during a Jan. 26 call to a Queens home. Chakraborty was struck four times and remains hospitalized in intensive care in a stable but critical condition.
What the Footage Shows
The clip, released by the NYPD on Tuesday, begins with audio from a 911 caller reporting that Chakraborty was experiencing a mental-health episode and requesting EMS rather than police. The video shows officers entering a living room where Chakraborty is allegedly holding a knife. Officers repeatedly order him to put the knife down while a woman steps between them and Chakraborty, appearing to shield or block him.
According to the NYPD, an officer then repositioned himself in the vestibule and closed the door between the hallway and the living room. The department says Chakraborty pushed through that door and advanced toward the officer with the knife; the officer discharged his weapon and struck Chakraborty four times.
Aftermath and Reactions
Chakraborty was taken to a hospital and remains in intensive care. The Queens District Attorney's Office is investigating the shooting, and preliminary reports indicate prosecutors are considering whether to seek an indictment that could include attempted murder.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the footage indicates Chakraborty needs mental-health treatment rather than criminal prosecution, and reiterated his call for alternatives — such as teams of social workers or specially trained responders — for some 911 calls involving mental-health crises.
Chakraborty’s family criticized law enforcement for escalating the situation, saying officers drew a firearm and shouted orders at Jabez rather than calming him. They have called on the Queens DA to drop any prosecution, demanded release of additional body-camera footage, and urged development of systems that allow families to summon non-police responders for medical or mental-health emergencies.
Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association, said the footage shows officers confronting an unpredictable, fast-moving, and dangerous situation and praised them for acting professionally and with restraint under terrible circumstances.
Investigation Status
The Queens District Attorney’s Office continues its investigation. The NYPD has stated that the family requested an involuntary removal, which typically prompts a response from both police and emergency medical services. The facts shown in the video and statements from involved parties are part of an ongoing inquiry.
This account is based on the NYPD-released footage and public statements; the investigation is ongoing and additional footage or findings may emerge.
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