Mayor Calls for Mental Health Treatment Instead of Prosecution

New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani stated on Tuesday that the Queens district attorney should refrain from prosecuting a mentally ill man fatally shot by police officers after he lunged at them with a knife. The mayor emphasized that the focus should be on the man’s need for mental health care.

According to NYPD officials, Jabez Chakraborty, 22, attacked the officers responding to a family emergency call on January 26 with a large kitchen knife. The police attempted to defuse the situation and urged him to drop the weapon. Unfortunately, one officer ultimately discharged their firearm, hitting Chakraborty, who was later hospitalized in critical condition.

The incident began when family members dialed 911, reporting Chakraborty was throwing glass at their home on Parsons Street. NYPD indicates that he passed away in Briarwood, as reported by the New York Daily News.

Upon arrival, officers encountered Chakraborty, who charged at them with the knife. Despite efforts to isolate him by closing a glass door, he managed to overpower the officers and produced the weapon.

NYPD officials clarified that their officers did not draw their firearms until Chakraborty brandished the knife. After the shooting, they provided first aid and worked to stop his bleeding before he was transported to the hospital, where his condition was reported as serious but stable.

The family explained in a statement that they had hoped emergency medical personnel would arrive, rather than the police. They expressed their shock, stating, “We called for help. We called 911 for an ambulance to provide treatment to our mentally challenged son. We did not call the police. Instead of medical responders, the NYPD arrived and shot our son multiple times in front of us.”

The Queens District Attorney’s Office is looking into the incident, with early reports indicating a possible consideration of attempted murder charges. However, after reviewing body camera footage, Mayor Mamdani argued that Chakraborty needed mental health care rather than legal consequences.

“The footage clearly indicates that what Mr. Jabez needs is mental health treatment, not criminal prosecution,” the mayor stated during a news conference. He highlighted the painful situation for the family, stressing the importance of having varied response options for those experiencing mental health crises.

Mamdani mentioned meeting with Chakraborty’s family, who were critical of the police’s initial actions during the incident. The family expressed their displeasure regarding the mayor’s comments praising the officers involved in the shooting, questioning why he would commend those who nearly killed their son right in front of them.