What to Know
- A 25-year-old man was shot and killed by police after he pointed a gun at officers, the NYPD said.
- Three officers fired 31 shots at Rashaun Lloyd. He was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
- A 9mm firearm was recovered at the scene, according to police.
A 25-year-old man died early Sunday morning after he pointed a handgun at New York City police who opened fire as the man threateningly approached them, investigators said.
The man, later identified as Rashaun Lloyd, was hit several times in a barrage of 31 gunshots.
The officers were responding to an alert issued by the NYPD gunshot detection system at the Soundview Houses in the Bronx at about 1:50 a.m. when they encountered Lloyd, police said.
“The officers ordered him to drop the gun, which was verified by at least one 911 caller,” Patrol Borough Bronx Commanding Officer Larry Nikunen said at a news conference.
“The suspect then starts to walk towards the officers pointing his gun at them. Three officers then fire a total of 31 shots, some of which struck the suspect.”
Lloyd was taken to Jacobi Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators are trying to determine what Lloyd was doing before police arrived at the public housing project on Randal Avenue. He has a criminal record that includes arrests for robbery and marijuana.
A 9mm firearm was recovered at the scene, police said.
Four officers were taken to Montefiore Medical Center as a precaution, not because of any injuries sustained during the confrontation, police said.
Local
Meanwhile, friends of Lloyd are grieving. One friend, Kasha Zelner, was listening to the last voice message he left her before he died. She can't believe it's the last time she'll hear his voice.
"I keep playing his messages. I keep looking around. I just called his phone a few times hoping he'd answer. But his family members answered and told me he's gone," Zelner said.
She said Lloyd leaves behind a little boy.
"That was like his main focus, his son," Zelner said. "He was trying to do better for his child."
Patty Curry, another friend, said there was no need to shoot him so many times.
"I mean this is getting ridiculous. I'm not saying he was innocent. But it don't take 31 shots. He wasn't shooting an elephant," Curry said.
Investigators were seen combing through shell casings and other evidence at the scene throughout the day on Sunday. The NYPD also has surveillance video from the New York City Housing Authority, which is being reviewed. Police will try to figure out how many of the 31 shots fired by officers struck Lloyd.
