NY Cops Fire Shots At Unarmed Suspect Curtis McGarrell

An unarmed man in Brooklyn was shot by cops on Monday, for not complying with their commands to show his hands, reported NYPD officials. The man, who has been identified as Curtis McGarrell, was shot in the leg during a shooting that occurred later that evening at the Prospect Lefferts Gardens. While McGarrell was rushed to Kings County Hospital to treat his wounds and has been recuperating.

The police were alerted of the incident after multiple reports of a man with a gun lurking around at Lenox Street and Bedford Avenue around 5.45 p.m. surfaced. When cops arrived at the scene they spotted a 60-year-old man -- later identified as Viatamere Francois -- holding a handgun and immediately apprehended him, police said. Soon after, Francois yelled that McGarrell was going to blast him, which led to the police firing shots at him.

“We have excellent body-worn camera footage of the incident,” said Chief of Department Terence Monahan. “Officers gave commands for the individual to back up and to show his hand. We then see the man rush towards our officers while reaching into his waistband and quickly removing his hand. At this point, one officer discharged his firearm two times,” he added.

Further probe into the incident is underway, while residents seemed petrified of the recent happening. “I heard gunshots from inside my house,” said a 71-year-old neighbor who disclosed her first name to be Merile, to a media outlet. “That’s terrible,” she added.

Joseph Sinbad, a senior citizen, was passing through the neighborhood when the shots were fired. “I’m scared,” said Sinbad. “I have to try to get out of that area. I don’t want to stay in the area. There’s too much stuff. I’m not accustomed to that,” added the 57-year-old.

Local resident Chinelo DeBrady, 26, termed the shooting "unfortunate.”, and a by-product of living in a “Low-SES (socio-economic status) community.