The mother of a Queens man who was shot by police while wielding a knife during a mental health crisis continued her tearful plea on Wednesday for the Queens District Attorney to drop the criminal charges against him.
Photo by Dean Moses
The mother of a Queens man who was shot by police while wielding a knife during a mental health crisis earlier this year continued her tearful plea on Wednesday for Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz to drop the criminal charges against him.
Jabez Chakraborty, 22, was shot multiple times inside of his Briarwood home on Jan. 25 after his family dialed 911 for help. The controversial incident was caught on police body-worn camera and appeared to show cops retreat into the home’s vestibule while issuing verbal demands that he drop the weapon.
As of March 11, Chakraborty is still bed-bound in the hospital and recovering from his injuries, having to appear for his latest court hearing that day virtually.
During the Jan. 25 incident, Chakraborty’s mother, Juli Chakraborty, attempted to wrestle the knife out of his hands, but Jabez broke free and marched toward the authorities.
One officer slammed the living room door shut, but seconds later, Jabez Chakraborty attempted to open it. That led one of the responding officers, identified as Tyree White, to open fire several times, striking him multiple times and causing him to collapse.
The NYPD released on Feb. 4 the body camera footage from the controversial Queens police shooting last month of a knife-wielding man in mental distress, placing further scrutiny on the role of cops in psychiatric emergencies.NYPD
Standing outside the courthouse, located at 125-01 Queens Blvd, a tearful Juli Chakraborty railed against the shooting and begged for Katz to drop the charges of attempted assault in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree against him.
“As a family, we only called 911 for medical transport, instead of getting support and treatment, Jabez got shot multiple times. And now, instead of focusing on recovery from multiple shots, DA Katz inflicts prosecution and the threat of prison on Jabez and us,” Juli Chakraborty said. “Our lives are now changed forever. We would like to focus on recovering and stabilizing our lives. We call on the DA to drop all the charges against my son, Jabez.”
“As a family, we only called 911 for medical transport, instead of getting support and treatment, Jabez got shot multiple times. And now, instead of focusing on recovery from multiple shots, DA Katz inflicts prosecution and the threat of prison on Jabez and us,” Juli Chakraborty said.Photo by Dean Moses 
he weeping mother was held closely by her husband Hector and Jabez’a uncle Sony.Photo by Dean Moses
Juli Chakraborty was joined Wednesday by her husband Hector and Jabez’s uncle Sony, both of whom held her in suport. As a family, they implored for a chance to get on with their lives.
Katz’s office did not immediately respond for comment.
Meanwhile, when reached for comment, the Police Benevolent Association, a union representing 21,000 cops, pointed to remarks by its president, Patrick Hendry.
“That’s not the way it works. It has to go through the criminal court system. That’s for the judge to decide,” Hendry said.
The shooting became one of the first points of contention for Mayor Zohran Mamdani, after he voiced his opposition to the young man facing charges despite claims that the officers’ lives were in danger. DA Katz nonetheless opted to charge Chakraborty.
Fahd Ahmed, executive director of Desis Rising Up and Moving, a group representing South Asian New Yorkers, told amNewYork on Wednesday that the family remains in contact with the Mayor’s office.
“We’ve been in communication with the mayor’s office, but there hasn’t been anything too substantial since the last court appearance. At least for this process, it’s just going to go through the court. There are some of the conversations with the mayor’s office around what sorts of alternatives, systems, changes, we’re going to build, but that’s going to take a little bit of time,” Ahmed said.
“We’ve been in communication with the mayor’s office, but there hasn’t been anything too substantial since the last court appearance. At least for this process, it’s just going to go through the court. There are some of the conversations with the mayor’s office around what sorts of alternatives, systems, changes, we’re going to build, but that’s going to take a little bit of time,” Ahmed said.Photo by Dean Moses