Mayor Eric Adams on Sunday fiercely defended two fatal shootings involving cops the previous day — as new video emerged showing one of the suspects shooting at a responding officer.
“Hell yeah!” Adams replied at a press conference when asked if the New York police had justification to kill the first person, an armed Queens resident who neighbors said was clearly mentally ill.
The mayor said it was appropriate to send the police to the scene, not mental health professionals.
“The man called 911 and, as the investigation will show, he said some things that clearly promoted violence,” Adams said.
Police officers killed 60-year-old Raul Hardy after he shot at them as they responded to his 911 call threatening to “blow up” the world and “change the government” by killing Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“This guy was bad,” Adams said. “And you know, when you listen to those tapes, it becomes clear. He had one role that he wanted to do, and they ended that role, and that’s really, I think it’s commendable.
Video shows a suspect shoot an NYPD officer in Brooklyn. TikTok/@mcglovin646
“It would have been irresponsible if we had sent civilians to respond to this. This gentleman was very clear about what his actions would be,” the mayor added.
The newly emerged video features the second fatal shooting Saturday by cops, this time in Brooklyn, of a gunman fleeing a traffic stop.
In the clip posted on TikTok, Malik Williams is seen walking down the northbound sidewalk of Flatbush Avenue near the Atlantic Terminal when he turns and fires multiple shots at the pursuing cop.
Mayor Eric Adams said it was appropriate to send cops to the scene, as opposed to mental health professionals. Thomas E. Gaston
The footage cuts before showing the officer firing back. Williams later died at a hospital.
Adams praised the unnamed officer for “[terminating] this threat’ too.
“This guy turns around and shoots this officer. That officer was able to discharge his firearm and end the threat. I stopped at 88[th Precinct] to see our employee and just thank him,” the mayor said. “He’s a real hero.”
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