Man attacking officers with meat cleaver shot by police near Penn Station, NYPD says
NEW YORK CITY -- A man who attacked officers with a meat cleaver near Penn Station was shot by police Thursday afternoon, law enforcement officials said.
The incident happened at 32nd Street and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan just after 5pm.
Chief James O'Neill with the NYPD said two officers responded to a call for a man trying to remove a boot from his car. During their response, officers ran into 32-year-old Joudeh Akram, 32, of Queens.
According to O'Neill, Akram pulled an 11-inch meat cleaver and ran. Officers tried to use a Taser on the suspect, but he kept running west on 32nd Street.
While running, the chief said Akram ran into the front grill of a marked police cruiser, at the same time as an off-duty detective tried to intervene.
O'Neill said Akram slashed the detective, who received a 6-inch gash. He's listed in serious condition.
The other officers at the scene then fired 18 shots at Akram, hitting him. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
A second officer is being treated for a possible graze wound from the shots fired by officers. Both officers are expected to survive.
PHOTOS: Shots fired near Penn Station after officers attacked
Investigators said this does not appear to be a targeted attack -- it appears to be an emotionally disturbed person.
This video from an Eyewitness News viewer shows ambulances leaving the scene:
Eyewitness News viewer Victoria Ammirato said her office was on lockdown after the shooting -- the elevators were shut down and all people in the office must now exit via stairwells.
There's was large police presence in the area, all while commuters were trying to head home during the evening commute.
Eyewitness News has a crew on the way to the scene. Keep checking abc7NY for the latest on this developing story.
