NYPD Releases Bodycam Footage of Officer-Involved Shooting in Queens; Mayor Advocates for Mental Health Response Over Prosecution

The New York City Police Department on Tuesday released body camera footage documenting the January 26 officer-involved shooting of Jabez Chakraborty, a 22-year-old Queens man in the midst of a mental health episode. The release comes amid a fraught debate over policing and crisis intervention, with Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly calling for mental health treatment rather than criminal prosecution for Chakraborty.

The video, captured after a 911 call from Chakraborty's family requesting medical assistance, shows officers entering the family's residence. Chakraborty is seen holding a large kitchen knife. Audible commands to drop the weapon are given repeatedly as the situation unfolds. The footage shows an officer retreating into a vestibule and closing a door, which Chakraborty then pushes through while advancing with the knife. The officer fires four shots, striking Chakraborty, who remains hospitalized in stable but critical condition.

Preliminary reports indicate the Queens District Attorney’s office is investigating the possibility of an attempted murder indictment. This potential path stands in direct contrast to Mayor Mamdani's stance. "Viewing this footage reinforces that Jabez needs mental health treatment, not criminal prosecution," Mamdani stated at a press conference, noting Chakraborty's long-term struggle with schizophrenia. "A person in crisis does not always have to be served first or exclusively by a police officer. We need all options available."

The incident has become a flashpoint in the ongoing discussion about reforming emergency response. Chakraborty's family, in a statement, accused responding officers of escalating the situation "quickly and unnecessarily," arguing that police should not be the default responders to medical support calls. They have called for the charges to be dropped and for the release of all related footage.

In defense of the officers, Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry said the footage reveals "an unpredictable, fast-moving and dangerous situation" where there was "no time or space to de-escalate before they were forced to act."

The clash between City Hall and law enforcement perspectives underscores a broader policy divide. Mayor Mamdani has previously advocated for replacing police with social workers or "transit ambassadors" on certain 911 calls, signaling a potential shift in how New York City manages public safety and mental health emergencies.

Voices from the Community

Marcus Chen, Social Worker in Brooklyn: "This tragedy is a systemic failure. We have decades of research showing armed police are often the worst tool for a mental health crisis. The mayor's push for alternative response is correct, but it's too late for this family. We need funded, citywide co-response teams now."

Elena Rodriguez, Queens Resident & Community Board Member: "My heart breaks for the young man and his family. As a neighbor, I want to feel safe, and that means safety for everyone, including those in crisis. The officers faced an impossible choice, but we must ask why the system offered them no better alternative."

David Fletcher, Retired NYPD Sergeant: "This is pure second-guessing. The officers did exactly what they were trained to do. You can't reason with a lethal threat. The mayor's comments undermine police morale and put officers in an even more dangerous position next time. If you call 911 for a man with a knife, you get police—that's reality."

Priya Kapoor, Mental Health Advocate: "It's infuriating! We've been begging for non-police crisis response for years. This was a call for an ambulance, not a SWAT team. The officer had time to reposition and close a door but didn't use a taser? Now a young man may be paralyzed or worse, and they want to prosecute him? It's a grotesque injustice."