21 Year Old Roosevelt Island Male Wielding A Large Knife Fatally Shot By NYPD Officers In Lobby Of 540 Main Street Responding To 911 Distress Calls By Family Member - Investigation Ongoing

Shortly after midnight this morning, a Roosevelt Island Tipster reported:

Trying to get on the Roosevelt Island bridge. A bunch of cop cars, and an ambulance sped by on the bridge and now a NYPD truck just blocked the road. 

 So we got two different stories. 

First we heard that someone was shot within one of the apartment buildings. To me it looks like Roosevelt Landings. 

Then I saw someone videotaping it and he said it was a cop who shot somebody.

NYPD commanding officer of Patrol Borough Queens North, Assistant Chief Christine Bastedenbeck, said during a 2;20 AM press conference in front of Roosevelt Landings:

At approximately 11 30 PM officers from the 114th Precinct responded to multiple 9-1-1 calls at 540 Main Street regarding a male 21 years of age who was reportedly threatening a family member with a knife. The caller was a relative inside the location who also stated the armed male was off his medication and under the influence of marijuana.

The responding sector car consisted of two officers who are also backed up by two additional officers. The incident was captured on body worn camera and shows the four officers entering the lobby of the building.

Three officers then entered one of the two elevators while another officer propped the lobby door open to allow for additional responding officers to enter the building. All of a sudden the suspect emerged from the second elevator not occupied by our officers and moved quickly towards the officer securing the door swinging the knife directly at this officer. 

That officer retreated outside of the lobby and then the suspect then charged towards the elevator occupied by our officers still armed with the knife. The officers inside the elevator attempted to deploy a taser and also discharge their firearm striking the suspect.A large knife was recovered from the right hand of the suspect as seen here. 

Officers began rendering aid until EMS could transport the suspect to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased 28 minutes after midnight. Thankfully none of the officers or civilians in the area were injured during this incident. I also want to acknowledge the response of local peace officers from the Roosevelt Island Public Safety unit 

The investigation will be handled by our Force investigation Division and additional information will be provided by DCPI as it becomes available....

Watch as NYPD executives provide a law enforcement update regarding an incident on Roosevelt Island https://t.co/XHG7w3Mk8t

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) August 5, 2023

CBS New York reports on the Roosevelt Island shooting.

This is the knife that was recovered on the scene of the incident pic.twitter.com/hv5jcoU020

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) August 5, 2023

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Daily Incident Blotter:

08/04/23 – 2359 – 540 Main St – Domestic Incident – PSD, NYPD and EMS responded – Report filed.

RIOC issued this advisory today at 9:47 AM: 

Dear Residents and Community Members,

We would like to inform you about an incident that occurred late yesterday evening in the lobby of 540 Main Street. The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Public Safety Department and New York Police Department (NYPD) responded to a distress call involving a family member who was being threatened by a relative armed with a knife. Upon NYPD arrival, the situation quickly escalated, resulting in a police officer-involved shooting.

The perpetrator charged at officers with a large brandished knife, NYPD officers discharged their tasers and firearms striking the perpetrator in an attempt to neutralize the threat and ensure the safety of all involved. The perpetrator was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. It was determined that the perpetrator suffered from mental illness and was under the influence at the time of the incident.

We are relieved to report that no officers or bystanders were injured during this incident. Our officers acted swiftly and professionally to address the threat and protect the safety of the community.

We extend our sincere gratitude to both NYPD and the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department for their rapid response and collaboration during this challenging situation. We also want to assure you that a comprehensive investigation is currently underway, led by the NYPD, as the primary investigatory agency. As such, further information regarding the incident will be released in accordance with their ongoing investigation.

We understand that incidents like these can be distressing for the community, and we remain committed to maintaining open lines of communication. We will provide updates as they become available and will continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of all residents and community members.

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation

CBS New York has more on this Roosevelt Island shooting.

At 6 PM this evening, I asked NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information (DCPI):

As of 11 AM there was no update from the early morning press conference by Assistant Chief Christine Bastedenbeck.

Is there any new information or update about the shooting this evening?

A NYPD spokesperson replied:

There are no updates. This remains on ongoing investigation.

Man Shot At Roosevelt Island Octagon Building Parking Lot Just After Midnight This Morning - Victim In Stable Condition, NYPD Investigating

I received a tip this morning and asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Acting President Shelton Haynes and Public Safety Chief Kevin Brown: 

I understand there was a shooting last night near the Octagon Can you confirm that Any more details

RIOC issued this advisory:

On Thursday, October 22nd, at 12:48 AM, there was a shooting incident on the north end of Roosevelt Island, located in The Octagon parking lot (888 Main St.). The victim, a 23-year-old male, is in stable condition and is not a resident of the island. Public Safety was called to the scene and is working in collaboration with the NYPD’s 114th Precinct to investigate. Public Safety will continue to be vigilant, with regular patrols and visible presence throughout the island.

According to a NYPD Spokesperson, a 23 year old male victim approached 2 males sitting in a car and heard 2 gunshots. The victim was shot in the upper arm and taken to hospital. Injuries were not life threatening.

No arrests have been made. Incident is under NYPD investigation.

Roosevelt Island NYPD 114 Precinct Neighborhood Coordination Officers Speak At Last Night's RIRA Meeting - Report On Upcoming Community Active Shooting Training, Citizens Police Academy And Always Available To Talk With Residents

During last night's (November 14) Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Public Session, NYPD 114 Roosevelt Island Neighborhood Coordination Officers Joseph Esposito and Keith Mathes spoke to the Common Council. According to the NYPD 114 Precinct:

Neighborhood Coordination Officers, or NCOs, are your local problem solvers. They spend all their working hours within the confines of their assigned sectors, actively engaging with local community members and residents. They get to know the neighborhood, its people, and its problems extremely well....

Officers Espositio and Mathes spoke of their availability to community members and offered their email addresses to residents if you wish to contact them.



Officer Esposito reported on an upcoming NYPD Community Active Shooter Training Session being held on Monday, November 18 that Roosevelt Island residents are invited to attend.

This Monday, Nov. 18, 2019 at 7pm at Christ The King High School in Middle Village the #NYPD Counterterrorism Division will host an Active Shooter Training. This event is open to the public and is designed to prepare Individuals in the event they are involved in an incident. pic.twitter.com/9bz2vF6JT4

— NYPD Queens North (@NYPDQueensNorth) November 13, 2019

Join us as NYPD Shield conducts this vital training session. This training is designed to give recommendations in the event you are involved in an active shooter situation. Must be at least 18 to attend.

RIRA member Frank Farance added a recommendation for community members to consider applying to the NYPD Citizens Police Academy, an:

... accelerated civilian training program, established to provide members of the community with a background and understanding of NYPD policies and activities, as well as the structure and limit of police power. Familiarity with these principles is the key to understanding the actions and reactions of police officers in the greater community. The Citizens Police Academy training seeks to improve police/community relations through educating the public about police work.

The 10-week program replicates and condenses the NYPD recruit training regimen, allowing civilian New Yorkers to gain a finer understanding of skills and abilities that police officers bring to a community partnership. Since its inception in 1993, the program has trained thousands of New Yorkers in the very same concepts and content as taught to NYPD recruits.

Each session addresses key NYPD initiatives in lectures, videos, roleplaying events, tactical exercises, and interdisciplinary workshops led by Police Academy instructors and representatives of other specialized units. Curricular coursework touches on domestic violence, gang violence, mental health, firearms simulation, counterterrorism, and use of force. Lessons are continuously revised to ensure content is current and relevant....

Here's more info on NYPD Active Shooter training.

Sadly, there was another U.S school shooting incident today.

UPDATE: Six students are hospitalized after they were shot by a classmate at Santa Clarita's Saugus High School, sheriff says. https://t.co/S0aBKHeSD3 pic.twitter.com/1cEc1ocjAz

— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) November 14, 2019

We are closely monitoring the reports of an active shooter incident at a high school in Santa Clarita, California pic.twitter.com/axNWO8vu9q

— NYPDCounterterrorism (@NYPDCT) November 14, 2019

NYPD Law Enforcement Explorers Program Launched for Roosevelt Island in Response to Recent Shooting - Learn More At 7 PM Wednesday May 27 Meeting

Roosevelt Island's NYC Council Member Ben Kallos announced at last night's Town Hall Meeting the formation of a NYPD Explorers Program on Roosevelt Island for residents 14 - 20 years of age.



There will be a meeting about the Roosevelt Island NYPD Explorers with the 114 precinct on May 27 at the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street)

 Ben Kallos reports in this press release today:

The Law Enforcement Explorers Program is coming to Roosevelt Island in a partnership between the 114th Precinct, the Public Safety Department and Council Member Ben Kallos’ Office, it was announced today. After a 20-year-old was shot in the abdomen on April 25 in the Roosevelt Landings Complex, stakeholders came together to find a safe and productive outlet for young Roosevelt Islanders. A May 27 event at Good Shepherd Center at 7 p.m., co-sponsored by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright, the 114th Precinct, RIOC and the Public Safety Department will introduce the community to the Law Enforcement Explorers and young people sign up.

The NYPD Law Enforcement Explorers is an educational program for New Yorkers ages 14-20 aimed towards community service and laying the groundwork for a career in law enforcement. Students learn from the five experience areas: Life Skills, Service Learning, Character Education, Leadership Experience, and Career. Roosevelt Island youth will be transported to and from the 114th Precinct for the program, which will meet regularly. There are also opportunities to apply for additional programming. Each Explorer program has an Officer as an on-site Post Advisor, and there are about 4,000 posts across New York City. It only costs $24/year, which makes it a low-cost and effective way to prepare teenagers for college and career.

"Mentorship and training from NYPD Law Enforcement Explorers is our answer to recent gun violence on Roosevelt Island. We are providing youth ages 14 to 20 with programming that will set them on a path to free or low-cost college and a career. Answering violence with compassion will lift our community and our youth,” said Council Member Ben Kallos.

"We are excited to partner with our local elected officials and the 114th Precinct to bring the NYPD Explorers Program to Roosevelt Island. The initiative will help facilitate a broader understanding of law enforcement services and will provide for opportunities for our island youth to work closely with officers from our Public Safety Department and the NYPD. Participants will not only gain a working knowledge of law enforcement work, but will also have the opportunity to learn about the importance of service and giving back to their community,” said Charlene Indelicato, President and Chief Executive Officer, Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.

The NYPD Law Enforcement Explorers is one of the Department's best community programs geared towards our youth. The program is geared for individuals aged 14-20 looking to pursue a career in law enforcement. The 114 Precinct in conjunction with Councilmember Ben Kallos and Roosevelt Island Public Safety is very proud to host the first Roosevelt Island NYPD Explorer initiative. We are looking to target our Roosevelt Island youth. Anyone interested please join us on May 27,” said Captain Peter Fortune, Commanding Officer of the 114th Precinct.

"During my tenure with the NYPD, I commanded three (3) Patrol Precincts, each of which had an Explorer Post, giving me an opportunity to see the benefits of Exploring first hand. A sense of belonging, accomplishment, and good citizenship are a few of those benefits. I look forward to working with our local elected officials, the 114th Precinct, and our Public Safety Department in affording this opportunity to the younger people of Roosevelt Island,” said John McManus, Roosevelt Island Director of Public Safety.

“The RIRA Public Safety Committee supports the creation of services for this population, believing that if engaged in productive activities, with purposeful direction, there will be an improvement in the quality of life of all. We support this initiative,” said Erin Feely-Nahem, Chair of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association Public Safety Committee.

“Thank you to the Detective Negron with the 114th Precinct, Charlene Indelicato of RIOC and Jack McManus of the Public Safety Department for their excellent work to make this happen,” said Council Member Ben Kallos. “It is also my pleasure to with Erin Feely-Nahem of RIRA and follow her guidance in an effort to support all of the members of our community.”

Here's more on the NYPD Explorers program



and April 25 Roosevelt Island shooting at this previous post.

Report From RIRA President Jeff Escobar - Recent Roosevelt Landings Shooting, Remembers Resident Patrick Stewart, CB 8 Cornell Meeting On PS 217 Partnership, Green Roof Participatory Budget Victory, Polling Initiative & More

Below is the Report From Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) President Jeff Escobar

to the May 6 RIRA Common Council. Mr. Escobar discussed:

• April 25 shooting at Roosevelt Landing (organizing Town Hall meeting),
• The recent death of former RIOC Director/RIRA President/CB 8 Member Patrick Stewart (Memorial Service Scheduled for May 16 at Good Shepherd),
• June 8 Community Board 8 public meeting with Cornell Tech on Partnership with PS 217,
• PS 217 Green Roof Participatory Budget Victory and
• RIRA Polling Initiative.

Here's what Mr. Escobar had to say.

Shooting At Roosevelt Island Roosevelt Landings Building Today -Victim Walks Into Public Safety Office After Being Shot In Stomach

A man walked into the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department (PSD) office this afternoon after being shot in the stomach at Roosevelt Landings. The PSD Officers called 911. An ambulance arrived to take victim to the hospital where he is listed in stable condition.

Image Of NYPD Investigating Roosevelt Island Shooting Today

Detectives from the NYPD 114th precinct are currently investigating the shooting. 

More details when they become available.

UPDATE 9:50 PM - From the Twitterverse, NYPD on Main Street investigating the shooting.

Mad 5-0. Don't know; didn't ask. Check the news... #RooseveltIsland #NYC http://t.co/Z7glc17ljf
— Roland Lizares (@rlizares) April 25, 2015

UPDATE 4/26 - According to a NYPD Spokesperson, the shooting was caused by a drug deal for marijuana gone bad. Two Roosevelt Island residents were arrested early this morning for attempted murder, attempted robbery and criminal possession of a firearm among other charges.

UPDATE 4/29 - RIOC PSD Chief Jack McManus reports that the suspects arrest was a good collaboration between PSD and NYPD 114th Precinct. Once PSD received a description of the suspects, PSD was able to identify the suspects and provide information to NYPD who made the arrests.

Roosevelt Landings co-owner Joshua Eisenberg of Urban American adds:

This was an isolated incident and we are working closely with the NYPD, Public Safety and the District Attorney's Office to support them in their investigation.

There was a fight outside of Roosevelt Landings last night. According to the RIOC Public Safety Daily Incident Report:

04/28/15 - 1934 - 530 Main St - Assault - PSD, NYPD & EMS responded - Condition corrected.

An archive of the RIOC Daily Public Safety Incident Report is located on blog's sidebar.

Update On June 22 Early Morning Shooting At Roosevelt Island's Roosevelt Landings Building - Security Improvements Need To Be Made By Residents and Landlord Urban American

Image from Roosevelt Landings Residents Association

Updating post from yesterday on the shooting that occurred at Roosevelt Landings (formerly known as Eastwood), Joyce Mincheff of the Roosevelt Landings Residents Association comments:

I've just learned of a shooting in the hallway of 540 Main Street today. Enough is enough! The lax security for Roosevelt Landings has got to stop!

Doors are left wide open for hours at a time. Front door locks are frequently broken for weeks on end. It's not okay. It's an invitation for trouble. Anyone with half a brain can get access to any Roosevelt Landings corridor from any Roosevelt Landings entrance. One door can make the difference.

We are lucky that a child was not injured by a stray bullet. It's irrelevant what the cause. Access to the building by non-residents has got to stop. The safety of tenants is not an option!

When locks break, it's imperative that you station a private security guard at that entrance until it can be secured or place one of your staff to serve that function! If the Public Safety Dept. can spare the manpower, that would be wonderful, but frankly, security of the building is the responsibility of Urban American. No matter how you do so, you need to handle it.

Doors can not be left wide open by your staff, for any reason! Not back doors, not side doors.... none of them. And all intercom systems must be functional throughout the building, 24/7.

I'd like to meet with you and Director Guerra tomorrow AM to discuss this further. Please advise.

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Director Keith Guerra describes what happened:

...While walking through the 4th floor corridor, the victim was confronted by two males wearing hooded sweatshirts. He was shot twice in the arm and hip (not life threatening) with a small caliber round, and transported to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. Thus far, there have been no arrests. It is unknown at this time if the incident is Gang related. NYPD is currently involved in an ongoing investigation. 

Joshua Eisenberg, General Counsel for Urban American (Landlord for Roosevelt Landings) states:

We are working closely with NYPD and PSD to determine how the assailant gained access and will identify and address any and all security improvements that we can make. At the time of the incident all doors and locks were functioning. It appears that the shooter may have been invited to the building or given access by another tenant, as no forced or unauthorized entry was apparent.

As Director Guerra reports it is unknown if this shooting is gang related, but there is a Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Gang Awareness Summit For Adults taking place tonight at Good Shepherd Community Center (6:30 PM) which may provide more information on this incident as well as provide valuable assistance and knowledge on the issue of gangs.

UPDATE 2:05 PM -  Roosevelt Landings Residents Association President Joyce Mincheff adds:

Last night at 2:30 AM (actually morning), I toured the building with the Public Safety Dept. to determine whether doors were functioning, locking and locked. The Officers and I detected 6 doors that were either completely ajar and/or had broken locks and were not locking. I was told some of those doors had been reported to Management over a period of many weeks. For Josh Eisenberg to claim that all the doors were locked is just plain inconsistent with documentation that the Public Safety Department indicated they have on file.

Unlocked and open doors have long been an issue for residents in our building. It took management several months to fix the locks at 540 and 580 Main St. During this time, management, including Josh Eisenberg, failed to even give me the courtesy of responding to my emails when I requested that they post Security at the unlocked doors.

Today, I investigated the door status in the building again. Right on Main Street I detected 3 entrances where management's own staff had propped the doors open. They had cleaned the location and left the lobbies completely unguarded. No one was posted at the door. Anyone could walk right in.

I know of at least one law suit that is currently pending that accuses management of being lax in their security practices. In this case, a woman was badly beaten and paralyzed in her home in Roosevelt Landings. 

The state of lawlessness that exists in Roosevelt Landings is enhanced by Management's failure to practice what rational people would find perfectly normal security, and I don't see how Mr. Eisenberg could possibly be correct in his sense of the building's security at the time of the incident.

As a precautionary measure, the residents association in the building has hung up signs, (many in the very same places that managment currently has signs about far less important issues), that alerts our tenants to the problem and advises them to contact managment and 311 in the event the problem is not fixed. The maintenance staff promptly removed our signs.

More Details On Shooting Incident at Roosevelt Island's 2-4 River Road

Another update on shooting incident at Roosevelt Island's 2-4 River Road from RIOC President Steve Shane:

You can tell your snide poster Barinthus that the person became the target of a setup when he was in a strip club off the Island, picked up a "lady" and returned with her to the Island where he was confronted by the lady's accomplice who pulled the gun, got into a struggle for possession of the weapon, shots were fired, the glass was shattered, the accomplice and the lady fled, NYPD arrived and took the vic into custody, along with the gun, and subsequently released him on the videotape evidence from the strip club and the security cameras at 2-4. Thus there was off Island activity which resulted in on Island gunshots. How could you make this stuff up? Why would Barinthus believe that I would?

I did not lay all of this out because it was really not necessary. Need to know basis?

Mr. Shane was referring to the comment below from this post yesterday.

so this is an off the island incident in which a gunshot was fired in front of manhattan park? Please explain how off the island and on the island are overlapping here?

Update To Roosevelt Island Shooting At 2-4 River Road

RIOC President sends the following update concerning the Tuesday morning (4:30 AM) shooting outside of Manhattan Park's 2-4 River Road.

Be advised that the apprehended person who fired the shots on Monday night/Tuesday morning has been released by NYPD. He established to their satisfaction that he was the victim of a setup/mugging from a location off Island and that he wrestled the weapon away from the other person involved in self defense, during which struggle the shots were fired and the window shattered.

Another example of why we all should not jump to conclusions.

In response to an inquiry whether this was a random incident Mr. Shane also added:

According to our information, unreliable as it may be, the individual became the object based on off Island activity and it was very specific to him.

Update - 4/16

Gun Shots Fired In Front Of Roosevelt Island's 2-4 River Road

Gun shot were fired early this morning in front of Roosevelt Island's 2-4 River Road, part of the Manhattan Park building complex. According to the Roosevelt Island 4/13-14 Daily Public Safety Incident Report:

Shots Fired- At 4:30 am an altercation between 2 males front of 2-4 River Road. One male pulled a fire arm and discharged the weapon, shattering the glass of 2-4 River Road. NYPD on scene. Individual apprehended. Fire arm recovered. No injuries.

Asked to provide additional information, RIOC President Steve Shane responded:

At approximately 4:30 AM on the morning of April 14, 2009, NYPD responded to a 911 call of shots fired at 2-4 River Road. The security guard placed the call.

There apparently had been 2 men arguing outside, one pulled a gun and fired 2 shots, one of which shattered the lobby door window.

NYPD apprehended the shooter and recovered the weapon. The other person involved fled the scene and remains at large.

There were no injuries.

Public Safety responded and assisted NYPD at the scene.

UPDATE - 4/15