NYPD Officers Fatally Shoot Man Armed with Butcher Knife in Lower East Side Apartment

New York City Police Department officers fatally shot a 54-year-old man on Sunday afternoon after authorities reported he advanced toward them with a large butcher knife inside a Lower East Side apartment building.

Emergency Response and Discovery

The incident occurred shortly after 4 p.m. at 126 Ludlow Street. Officers had responded to several 911 calls reporting an active assault in progress. Upon entering the building, officers discovered a trail of blood leading up a staircase, according to NYPD Assistant Chief Melissa Eger, who provided details at a news conference Sunday evening.

The Confrontation and Aftermath

As the officers ascended the stairs, they encountered 54-year-old Wei Chan descending. He was armed with what police described as a substantial butcher knife.

Assistant Chief Eger stated that officers repeatedly commanded the man to show his hands and drop the weapon. Despite these directives, Chan allegedly continued to move toward the officers while still holding the large knife.

In response, the officers discharged their firearms, striking Chan. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

Eger noted that while Chan had no documented criminal history with the department, he did have a known mental health record.

Investigators also located Wei Chan's 75-year-old father, Cheung Chan, who had sustained a laceration to his head. Authorities believe Wei Chan injured his father prior to the officers' arrival. The elder Chan was also taken to the hospital and is expected to recover from his injuries.

The officers involved in the shooting were taken to a hospital for evaluation, police confirmed.

Their actions are a reminder of how officers run towards danger and not away from it, Assistant Chief Eger remarked on the officers' conduct.

Official Statements and Ongoing Probe

Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the incident Sunday, confirming he had been briefed on the shooting. He announced that an internal investigation would be conducted into the matter.

In a statement posted on social media, Mamdani affirmed,

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 full circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under active investigation.