Dramatic footage has shown the moment a 65-year-old man was shot dead by New York City police after he approached officers waving a gu...
Dramatic footage has shown the moment a 65-year-old man was shot dead by New York City police after he approached officers waving a gun and reportedly shouted: 'You're not gonna stop me.'
Motorists driving along the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn, watched in horror as the confrontation played out and ducked behind their cars after a barrage of more than 20 bullets were fired.
The incident began at around 4pm when a cop attempted to pull over a Jeep Cherokee near the Bay 8th St exit.
The driver sped away east on the parkway, and the officer followed in pursuit.
A driver live streamed the incident in Brooklyn on Thursday
Two police officers, guns drawn, can be seen challenging the gunman who approached them
The Jeep Cherokee can be seen speeding away from the traffic stop
'The officer followed the car and positioned her unmarked car in front of his vehicle,' said Rodney Harrison, NYPD Chief of Department.
'The male then rear ended the officer's car in the vicinity of the Verrazzano Bridge and continued east, driving on the Belt Parkway without stopping.'
Audio from police scanners recorded the officers requesting backup.
A second Highway Unit vehicle responded, and the Jeep was pulled over at the Bay Parkway exit about a mile away.
The driver then got out the vehicle, waving a gun and approached the police.
The Jeep Cherokee, with its door open, can be seen surrounded by officers when it was finally pulled over
Adam Butler, who pulled over after police shut down the busy highway, told CBS New York: 'The gentleman said, 'You're not gonna stop me. You have to let me go, you have to let me go.'
'And at some point when he raised the gun high enough, I think the cops had to at least get him on the ground.
'He was rolling on the ground. Even after being shot, he was still attempting to shoot back.
'They weren't trying to use deadly force, but he was actively trying to shoot.
'He was raising the weapon trying to shoot back. What are you supposed to do after that?'
There was a barrage of at least 16 gunshots, followed by a pause, then another shot, then another pause, then another two.
Several seconds passed before two more shots were heard.
One witness ducked behind his car as he streamed a live feed of the shooting on Instagram.
People driving along the highway livestreamed the shooting
The 65-year-old could be seen lying in the road after his fatal encounter with the police
The shooting caused a large tailback along the Belt Parkway - a major artery around Brooklyn
NYPD released a photo of the gun recovered at the scene
Rodney Harrison (center), the NYPD Chief of Department, said his officers had little choice but to take down the man waving the gun and 'stop the threat'
Harrison said: 'The subject continued to advance towards the officers, at which time two officers fired multiple rounds at the individual, striking him several times.'
He was taken to Lutheran Hospital, CBS reported, where he later died. He has not been named.
His gun was recovered at the scene, and he had seven prior arrests.
Investigators are looking into whether the man wanted to commit 'suicide by cop,' sources told the Daily News.
'Listen it's a dangerous situation,' said Harrison.
"It's unfortunate there had to be a negative ending but we did what we had to do to stop the threat.'
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