Officers say they were tipped off to an armed man inside the store by an employee who ran out of the store and into a nearby police precinct as soon as the suspect got aggressive.
"I thought there was some confrontation. I got my slushy, walked out and that was it. Next thing I know, I'm coming up Tremont, they said somebody got shot, said eyewitness Steve Schiro.
The 22-year-old man who was shot by police was armed with a kitchen knife. Just after 2 p.m. Saturday he entered the store and wouldn't leave.
A woman employee anxiously stepped out of the store. when she returned, the male was then seen behind the counter with another employee, officials say.
The suspect was robbing the store. The woman then flagged down two officers at the 45 Precinct just down the block. Police say the officers entered the store and told the man to take his hands out his sweatshirt pocket.
"That male advancing toward the officer produced a kitchen knife and began to lunge at the officer that was giving him verbal commands. That officer removed his firearm, attempted to retreat backward, and fired his firearm one time, striking the male in the torso," said Assistant Chief Benjamin Gurley.
Police say the suspect ignored the officer's repeated commands to drop the knife.
The suspect was pronounced dead at Jacobi Hospital.
One woman who works nearby is sickened by what happened.
"I wanted to throw up. I work here - I just came back from vacation. Yeah, I wanted to throw up," she said.
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