NYPD Officer Dies By Friendly Fire During Scuffle

An NYPD officer has died as a result of friendly fire.

On Monday, New York Police Department Commissioner James O’Neill addressed the fatal shooting. “This is a tragic case of friendly fire, but make no mistake, we lost a life of a courageous public servant solely due to a violent criminal who put the lives of the police and all the people we serve in jeopardy.”

The officer was 33-year-old Brian Mulkeen, who was stationed in The Bronx Anti-Crime Unit. The officer was investigating gang activity and two shootings with two other officers at around 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, NYPD said. 

That night, officers got out of their cars to question a man, who then took off running. The officers chased the suspect, and when they eventually got ahold of him, the group started to fight on the ground, NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan previously announced.

A body camera worn by Mulkeen showed the fight, in which you can hear Mulkeen yelling “He’s reaching for it! He’s reaching for it!” Mulkeen shot five rounds, and his partners fired 10, two of which hit Mulkeen. The officer was struck three times, but one of the wounds was “an in and out wound.” 

“Officer Mulkeen retained his firearm during the entire violent struggle he had with the suspect,” O’Neill said. “Brian was the one who fired his own weapon, and he fired five rounds at the suspect.”

CNN reports the suspect was 28-year-old Antonio Williams who was shot dead. Williams was on probation for a narcotics-related and had served time in prison on a burglary conviction, Sgt. Mary Frances O’Donnell of the NYPD said. The man was also arrested for petty larceny and false documents.

Mulkeen served the force for over six years. He leaves behind a girlfriend who is also an NYPD officer.