A man armed with a meat cleaver was shot by police in New York after he sliced an off-duty detective in the head during an argument about his car being clamped.
The attack and shooting happened near Madison Square Garden, according to the New York Post.
Police had been called to the area after the man became angry, but when the suspect refused to drop his weapon a sergeant stepped in to Taser him. A struggle then broke out, and an off-duty officer who was attempting to help his colleagues was struck in the head with the cleaver. He is now undergoing surgery, but isn’t thought to be in a life-threatening condition.
Two other officers were injured in the struggle, with one being grazed in the back by a bullet. They have been taken to a local hospital, although their injuries aren’t thought to be serious.
The alleged attacker, identified by a police source as 32 year-old Akram Joudeh, had refused to drop his knife and laughed at police, according to sources. He is now in a critical condition following the shooting.
A bystander told the NY Daily News: “He ran down the sidewalk past me and I moved to the other side of the truck I was standing next to where the cops were standing with their guns. It seemed like there was a lot of confrontation there. I heard 10-15 shots.”
NYPD spokesman J. Peter Donald tweeted about the incident: “Officers in midtown Manhattan encountered a man with a meat cleaver. Officers discharged several rounds striking the suspect.” He added: “One officer was struck with the meat cleaver and transported to an area hospital. The suspect was also hit by an officer. All info preliminary.”
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