Chaotic moment an NYPD cop is shot dead by his fellow officers in friendly fire during struggle with a suspect who was reaching for his gun
- Police confronted Antonio Williams at a housing project in the Bronx in regards to recent shootings in the area but he took off running
- Bodycam footage showed officers Robert Wichers and Brian Mulkeen catch up with him moments later
- Wichers was heard screaming, ‘He’s reaching for it!’ to his partner, as they tried to subdue Williams
- Five police officers opened fire killing Mulkeen in friendly fire and fatally shooting Williams on September 29
- Police said a .32 caliber gun was recovered on Williams, but was not fired
- Williams’ family said the NYPD was ‘reckless’ with use force that led to his death
- The police department has not ruled if any cops used excessive force
This is the moment that an NYPD officer is accidentally shot dead by his fellow cops in a ‘reckless’ friendly fire incident.
Officer Brian Mulkeen was killed while struggling with suspect Antonio Williams, 27, who was reportedly reaching for his gun when officers opened fire at the Edenwald Houses in the Bronx, New York, on September 29.
Williams was also killed in the onslaught of bullets.
Bodycam footage footage shows Mulkeen and Officer Robert Wichers pulling up in an unmarked car to question Williams about recent shootings in the area.
Police give chase to 27-year-old Antonio Williams in the Edenwald Houses in the Bronx. As one officer’s body camera shows, they finally reached the suspect, but saw him reach for a gun. Police fired 15 shots killing him and Officer Brian Mulkeen who was caught in the fatal crosshairs
Body-camera video released by the NYPD shows a suspect, later identified as Antonio Williams, 27, being chased by officers before finally subduing him
As Officer Robert Wichers tries to subdue a suspect, he screamed to his partner ‘He’s reaching for it!’ Police fired 15 rounds killing Antonio Williams, but Officer Brian Mulkeen also died from friendly fire
But when they tried to speak to him, he fled leading to a brief chase by the officers.
Video shows the officers catching him moments later with Mulkeen tackling him on the pavement.
As Mulkeen struggled with Williams, Wichers repeatedly yelled: ”He’s reaching! He’s f**king reaching! He’s reaching for it!’
Within 30 seconds of Mulkeen tackling Williams, another three cops arrived at the scene.
Officer Brian Mulkeen (right) and Antonio Williams (left) were both killed in the gunfire
The gun found on Williams after police fired 15 shots. The NYPD said the weapon wasn’t fired. Williams and Officer Brian Mulkeen were killed in the overnight scuffle September in the Bronx
All six officers, including Mulkeen, opened fire. Mulkeen, 33, pulled the trigger five times, Wichers fired one, as did Officer Mahon and Det. Beddows. Sergeant Valentino shot five rounds, and Officer Figueroa three, in the fracas.
Both Williams and Mulkeen were killed. A .32-caliber revolver, that had not been fired, was later found on Williams’ body.
Mulkeen, who joined the department in 2013, was fatally shot by friendly fire in the chaotic battle with Williams just before 12:30am at the intersection of East 229 Street near Laconia Avenue.
The fallen officer was assigned to the anti-crime unit in the Bronx’s 47th precinct.
Thousands of police attended the funeral of NYPD Officer Brian Mulkeen in Monroe, New York on October 4
Members of the NYPD mourn as they attend the wake of NYPD P.O. Brian Mulkeen, the NYPD police officer who was fatally struck by gunfire from his fellow officer while he struggled with an armed suspect
Mulkeen’s funeral was held at Smith, Seaman & Quackenbush Funeral Home located at 117 Maple Avenue East in Monroe, New York on Thursday, October 3, 2019
Former Tuxedo NY dispatcher Brian Mulkeen with his friend and colleague Sgt Douglas Russell, when Mulkeen was about to start his new job with #NYPD in 2013
Mulkeen joined the department in 2013 and was proud to be an NYPD cop
Williams’ family reprimanded the NYPD for ‘reckless’ use of force that killed him.
The NYPD has not ruled if any officers used excessive force in the deadly incident and are still investigating, the Post reported.
‘The NYPD’s use of force policy delineates four levels of force an officer may use, up to and including deadly physical force,’ Maloney said.