An NYPD officer was shot by friendly fire while attempting to subdue a suspect armed with a knife at a Brooklyn train station. The incident occurred on Sept. 15, 2024, at the Sutter Avenue L Train Station, where Officers Edmund Mays and Alex Wong confronted 37-year-old Derrell Mickles.
Mickles was initially approached by the officers after reportedly jumping a subway turnstile. When he returned to the station later, holding a knife, the officers demanded that he drop the weapon. Mickles refused, shouting at the officers and daring them to shoot him.
The officers deployed their tasers, but they were ineffective in subduing Mickles. As the suspect attempted to flee, the officers fired their guns—Officer Wong discharged six shots, and Officer Mays fired three. Tragically, Officer Mays was hit by friendly fire during the exchange.
Two bystanders were also injured during the chaotic scene. Officer Mays and the bystanders were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Mickles, who continued to hold onto the knife after being shot, was disarmed when Officer Mays kicked the weapon away. Mickles was later charged with attempted assault, menacing a police officer, and criminal possession of a weapon.
This incident underscores the risks police face when dealing with armed suspects and highlights the potential for unintended consequences in such dangerous situations.
