WATCH: Dramatic video shows moment NYPD shoots knife-wielding man — but Mamdani wants to send social workers

February 5, 2026

From the New York Post: Heart-pounding bodycam footage shows the moment an NYPD officer shot and wounded a mentally ill 22-year-old man who lunged at the cop with a knife inside a Queens home last week.

The Jan. 26 police shooting of schizophrenic man Jabez Chakraborty has prompted backlash from the family, and fueled a renewed push from Mayor Mamdani for his proposed Department of Community Safety to deal with mental health crises.

The clip, released by the NYPD on Tuesday, begins with a 911 call from a female relative who requested “involuntary transportation” for Chakraborty, who she said had been hurling glass against the wall.

The video begins with police calmly approaching the house and a woman inviting them inside. However, as soon as Chakraborty saw police, he grabbed up a large knife and began walking toward the officers.

Officer Tyree White can be heard yelling, “Put the knife down! Drop the knife!”

The female relative was trying to hold Chakraborty back, but he kept advancing toward the officers, who finally had to open fire on him.

Chakraborty, who was struck four times, was taken to the hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

The family of the man are now blaming police, alleging, “Rather than de-escalate the situation, the officer instead further escalated by drawing his gun and yelling orders at Jabez.”

“Within a minute of NYPD’s arrival, Jabez was shot multiple times and almost killed, while he was calmly eating food just minutes earlier,” the family claimed, adding, “This is why officers should not be responding to medical support calls.”

However, Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry said in a statement, “The video makes it clear that these police officers walked into an unpredictable, fast-moving and dangerous situation. There was no time or space for them to de-escalate the situation before they were forced to act.”

On Tuesday, Democrat socialist NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani told reporters that Chakraborty should NOT be charged for running at police with the knife, but instead should receive mental health treatment.

Mamdani just went to visit Jabez Chakraborty in the hospital today

Here is the bodycam of him charging NYPD with a knife, which resulted in an officer discharging his weapon to protect himself https://t.co/rBo7DZ4AYK

— Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) February 4, 2026

🚨 JUST IN: New Yorkers are shocked and appalled after Ugandan Mayor Zohran Mamdani VISITS and CONSOLES the man who tried to kill a cop with a knife

“No family should have to endure this pain!”

You got what you asked for, NYC.

Cops will flee. Good luck.pic.twitter.com/xpmkIiueKB

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 4, 2026