Cop Says Police Shooting of NY Man Saved His Life

A White Plains police officer said Monday he "had no other option" but to fatally shoot a mentally ill black man because he believed the man was about to harm a police sergeant.

During testimony in White Plains federal court, Anthony Carelli said it was his responsibility to protect the other officers from Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. He said Chamberlain was "egging" police on with taunts to shoot him.

The deadly 2011 encounter at Chamberlain's apartment in suburban White Plains was a precursor to the national debate over use of force by police in communities of color and in response to calls involving emotionally disturbed people.

Carelli and the city of White Plains were sued by Chamberlain's family for $21 million. The lawsuit went forward after a grand jury declined to indict the white officer.

Lawyers for the officer and White Plains insist the shooting was justified, saying the officer used deadly force only as a last resort.

Chamberlain's son, Kenneth Chamberlain Jr., calls his father a victim of "systematic racism" by law enforcement.

Earlier Monday, according to The Journal News, a police sergeant testified that Carelli saved his life. Keith Martin said he thought he was "going to get stabbed" if Carelli hadn't shot Chamberlain during the standoff.

At the time of the shooting, Chamberlain was living alone and suffering from bipolar disorder, arthritis and respiratory illness, conditions that prompted his family to give him a LifeAid medical alert device in case he needed help.

On Nov. 19, 2011, Chamberlain accidentally set off the alert, prompting police to come to his door. In transcripts of recordings of the encounter captured by a LifeAid help center, he can be heard telling the officers he didn't want them there.

"Go home to your wives and children," he said.

As the officers persisted in trying to coax him into opening the door, Chamberlain sounded more agitated and disoriented, saying at one point that he was in touch with "the President and Vice President Biden."

Police say he poked a knife through a crack in the door, repeated, "honor, honor, honor" and then warned, "First one through the door, I'm gonna kill."

Backup officers, including Carelli, were called in to remove the door. Once inside, they sought to subdue Chamberlain with a stun gun and a bean bag weapon.

Carelli on Monday told the jury the bean bags "didn't incapacitate him at all." He said that when Chamberlain charged toward Martin with a butcher knife in hand he opened fire.