NYPD Officers Fatally Shoot Man Wielding Butcher Knife in Lower East Side

NYPD officers shot and killed a 54-year-old man on Sunday afternoon after he approached them with a butcher knife in a Lower East Side apartment building.

The incident occurred shortly after 4 p.m. at 126 Ludlow Street, prompted by several 911 calls reporting an assault. NYPD Assistant Chief Melissa Eger stated that officers found blood leading up a staircase when they arrived.

As officers moved upstairs, they encountered Wei Chan, who was armed with a large butcher knife. Eger noted, “Officers repeated multiple commands for the male to show his hands in an effort for him to drop the weapon.” Despite these commands, Chan continued advancing toward the officers, leading them to open fire. Chan was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Eger mentioned that although Chan did not have a criminal history with the department, there was a documented mental health history.

The police also discovered Chan’s 75-year-old father, Cheung Chan, who had a head laceration. Wei Chan allegedly injured his father before the police arrival. Cheung Chan was hospitalized and is expected to survive. The officers involved were also sent to the hospital for evaluation.

Eger remarked on the officers’ bravery, stating, “Their actions are a reminder of how officers run towards danger and not away from it.”

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that he had been briefed on the shooting and confirmed that an internal investigation will be conducted. He also stated that body-camera footage will be released.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are still being investigated.

Sophia Compton, a writer at Fox News Digital, has contributed her expertise in incidents like these. She can be reached at [email protected] for story tips.