An hours-long standoff between Mount Vernon police and an allegedly armed man they were trying to pick up on a mental health order ended early Friday when law enforcement shot him, officials say.
Mount Vernon police had gone to the scene, near Columbus Avenue and East Fourth Street, to execute the commitment order Thursday night when they “encountered an armed individual who refused to comply with the court order or be taken into custody,” the department said in a statement.
The man, 58-year-old Ulysses McGhee, barricaded himself in the apartment while armed with two knives. Police said they used intervention techniques including hostage negotiations, de-escalation and wellness intervention, to no avail.
“After negotiation efforts were exhausted and threats of self-harm and harm to officers were made, officers obtained a warrant authorizing entry into the apartment,” the Mount Vernon statement continued.
Once Emergency Services Unit officers made their way in just after 2 a.m., they tried, again, to safely take McGhee into custody, and again, he refused, police say. He was still armed with knives, according to state police.
Considering him an imminent threat to himself and responding officers, an officer fired her service weapon. While it was not clear where, or if, McGhee was struck by a bullet, he was taken to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx in critical condition.
The officer who fired the shot was also evaluated at the hospital, but no injuries to her were reported. A different ESU officer was treated for an ear injury stemming from the incident.
Chopper 4 showed an active scene through Friday morning.
New York State Police is handling the investigation, in accordance with protocol for officer-involved shootings.
Read the full statement
Mount Vernon police posted the statement on the department’s Facebook page.