Bronx residents question if language barrier played role in NYPD shooting
MOTT HAVEN, Bronx (WABC) -- Questions are being raised Monday after a man with a knife was shot by officers in the Bronx on Sunday -- and some wonder if a language barrier was to blame.
Police say officers gave repeated commands to drop the knife before opening fire, but some neighbors wonder if they allowed him enough time to explain who he was.
It has prompted some residents to point out that officers should at least know some basic commands in Spanish.
The incident unfolded with a 911 call Sunday night concerning the robbery of an air conditioner at an apartment building on East 148th Street around 6 p.m.
Before police arrived, the man who made the call can be seen in the courtyard with the knife trying to confront the suspected thief.
But when the two female officers arrived, they shot the man holding the knife -- the man who called 911.
Police officials say as the officers were coming down a dark stairwell in the building, they encountered the man running up the stairs holding a knife.
Investigators say the officers issued commands for the man to drop the knife.
"The officer did put her hand out and extended her hand and told him to wait," said NYPD Deputy Chief Rohan Griffith.
But he continued approaching them. That's when they opened fire, shooting him once in the torso.
A Ring camera captured the intense moment one of the officers opened fire. Immediately, she radios that shots have been fired, and the lobby fills with back up.
It happened in a split second and officials say there is body cam video showing the officers try to stop the man both verbally and with hand gestures.
When the victim called 911 he spoke in Spanish and a translator was needed. The NYPD is investigating to see if a language barrier played a role.
"Why don't they send a Spanish cop? Maybe with a Spanish cop that doesn't happen," said neighbor Juan Rivera. "Maybe the guy talks to him in Spanish and the guy drops the knife. Not necessary to take the action last night."
"Yeah, especially those specific words like put it down, those little words that might help the person to understand what they're saying," said resident Camilla Rosario.
The 32-year-old victim was rushed to Lincoln Hospital where he is stable and is expected to survive. He has not yet been identified, but Eyewitness News was told the victim is from Mexico and sold flowers and vegetables.
"It's deeply troubling, I think when an innocent person is shot at the hands of police there should be an independent investigation," Rep. Ritchie Torres said.
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