\u201c(Officers) observed that the male was holding a knife and he stated to them, \u2018I want to die. I want you to kill me. I have a bomb. You\u2019re not going to make me do something bad to the cops,’\u201d Dowling said.<\/p>\n
Officers spent nearly an hour trying to persuade the man to climb down to the roadway when he \u201cquickly descended the cable\u201d towards them, Dowling continued.<\/p>\n
ESU officers, who were moving slowly because they were harnessed and clipped to the same cable the man was climbing down, attempted to back away from him but \u201cwere not able to move as quickly,\u201d Dowling said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the male got within approximately three feet from the closest member of ESU, he raised his arm with the knife extended outward towards the officer,\u201d Dowling said. \u201cAt that point, a member of ESU who was on the roadbed discharged his weapon one time, striking the male.\u201d<\/p>\n
Officers brought the man down and began rendering aid before medics arrived and rushed him to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name was not immediately released.<\/p>\n
Cops recovered the man\u2019s knife and a flashlight that he dropped.<\/p>\n
Police were investigating the man\u2019s claims that he had a bomb, but would not say if any bomb materials were found on the man.<\/p>\n
The NYPD closed the Brooklyn-bound side of the iconic bridge as they investigated.<\/p>\n
\u201cDue to ongoing police activity, avoid the vicinity of the Brooklyn-bound Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan,\u201d the NYPD said on X. \u201cExpect delays and use alternate routes.\u201d<\/p>\n
All lanes were reopened as of 8:30 a.m., cops said.<\/p>\n
Early-morning commuters saw a massive amount of police activity on the bridge following the incident.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll Brooklyn bound lanes closed on the Brooklyn bridge. Helicopters and police boats since 3am for a \u201cpolice operation\u201d?\u201d X user Gia wrote. \u201cNo one knows what\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n
____________<\/p>\n
\u00a92026 New York Daily News.<\/p>\n
Visit\u00a0nydailynews.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n