Man Shot by Police in NYC Shouted That He Had a Gun: Sources

A emotionally disturbed man shot by police in Harlem shouted that he had a gun before pulling an object out of his pocket that is now believed to have been a wallet, law enforcement sources close to the investigation say.

Police were called to 234 West 114th St. just before 6 p.m. Tuesday and spoke to a witness who said there was a man with a gun on the fourth floor, NYPD Chief of Patrol Rodney Harrison said.

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When they got to the fourth floor, officers found Michael Cordero, 34, in the hallway, screaming that he had a gun, law enforcement sources said.

Cordero refused to take his hands out of his pockets when the officers asked him to, the sources said.

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When he finally took his hands out, he took a shooting stance holding an object that is now believed to have been a wallet, according to the sources.

One officer fired three rounds at Cordero, hitting him once in the hip. Cordero was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital in stable condition. The incident was captured on police body cam.

Police said Cordero had been visiting his parents in the building, despite the fact that his mother had an order of protection against him.

Attorney Sanford Rubenstein, who has been retained by Cordero’s father, told News 4 he planned to conduct an independent investigation into the shooting.

Residents who live in the building questioned the officer’s use of force on Tuesday.

“Dude is a very good person, and I feel like they could’ve handled the situation different,” Mary Deyo told News 4.

The NYPD’s Force Investigation Division is investigating.

Photo Credit: News 4 NY

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