Police fatally shoot man who flashed knife in Flatbush

Saturday, September 14, 2024 11:02PM

Police fatally shoot knife-wielding man wanted for multiple homicides in Brooklyn

Police fatally shot a knife-wielding man in Flatbush.

FLATBUSH, Brooklyn (WABC) -- Tensions boiled after officers fatally shot a man inside his East 21st Street apartment in Flatbush on Friday evening.

One officer was struck in the head after bottles were hurled at them.

Police say they were serving a warrant on a suspect wanted for multiple homicides after being tipped off about his whereabouts.

Investigators say officers were allowed into the apartment, and that is when they saw Vilmond Jean Baptiste, 38, hiding in the bathtub, fully dressed with his knife.

"The members from the warrant squad gave numerous commands to the male. They gave commands to get out of the tub, to show his hands, and then they realized that he was armed with a knife and then they gave him numerous commands to drop the knife," said NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey.

The sergeant tried to deploy his taser, but the taser did not work. That is when the suspect came out of the bathroom with a knife and almost attempted to stab the sergeant.

Police officials say at least three officers discharged their firearms, striking Baptiste.

They say Baptiste is a strong person of interest in two separate homicides that resulted in the death of three people, including a stabbing in July where a 54-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man were both stabbed to death. Investigators say he is also the suspect in the fatal stabbing of a 66-year-old in Flatlands back in August.

"His M.O. seems to be he begins to date older women and then they allow him to reside in his house to use narcotics. The relationship was romantic in nature," said NYPD Chief Kenney.

That victim was identified as Claudette Jones. She was found with multiple stab wounds inside her kitchen.