The rise of urban violence in America appears to be increasingly linked to mental health issues, leading to an endless series of preventable tragedies.
That appears to be the case with recently released footage of an NYPD officer-involved shooting last December, in which a cop was forced to neutralize a suspect who choked his mother and threatened to kill her unless the officer shot him.
Ostensibly, a “suicide by cop” if there ever was one.
When police arrived at the scene in Bedford Park, a younger woman ran from the apartment with visible injuries to her face.
“A criminal who may have been on drugs, was acting violently and armed with a knife,” the 911 call told Reuters.
The New York Post reported:
“Video footage released by the NYPD shows the moment An officer kills a man with a single bullet while the deranged suspect holds his mother in a choke hold while screaming that he has a knife inside a Bronx apartment last December.
Police Officer Alex Morges fired a single shot at suspect Michael Dotel, hitting him in the head just inches from the victim's face during the tense standoff on December 23, according to the American “space” website. To the stills and the police.
The 30-year-old suspect fell to the ground and was later pronounced dead at St. Barnabas Hospital.
Dutil held the victim in a choke hold: his right arm around her neck, his left hand applying additional pressure.
The police opened fire while the victim was losing consciousness.
“Do it, you'll get it,” Dotel shouted at Morges and his partner while holding his mother in front of him like a shield, according to new camera footage released.
“Shoot me, shoot me,” the video shows him screaming in the living room of the apartment as he continues to challenge the cops to do so. When Morges asked where the knife was and asked to drop it, Dutil replied: “I got the knife,” the footage shows.
Besides his history of mental illness, Dutil had three open criminal cases against him at the time of the shooting.
NYPD Assistant Commissioner for Public Information Carlos Nieves said the internal investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
