The NYPD released body-worn camera footage from a Brooklyn subway station shooting that happened after a confrontation between police and a fare-beater with a knife. Two officers fired shots, hitting the suspect, as well as two bystanders. One bystander, Gregory Delpeche, was critically injured and required surgery to reduce brain swelling. The suspect, Derrell Mickles, faced charges and pleaded not guilty. His lawyer argued that there was disproportionate force used by the police. Surveillance video showed Mickles wielding a knife and refusing to drop it, resulting in the shooting.
After viewing the bodycam footage, Delpeche’s family’s attorney criticized the officers’ decision to open fire and called for accountability. Police officials defended the officers’ actions, stating that they fired in self-defense after attempts to deescalate the situation failed. Police reform advocates condemned the shooting, attributing it to the mayor’s investment in policing rather than community services.
The shooting led to protests in Brownsville, with nearly 20 people arrested for condemning the officers’ actions. Relatives of the victims and local officials criticized the police for being reckless and irresponsible. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a former police captain, defended the officers’ actions as necessary and disciplined. He emphasized the need for officers to make the right decisions and maintain public safety. Following the release of the footage, Adams refrained from further comment pending a formal review of the incident.
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