Knife-Wielding Man Shot After Charging Patrol Car, Smashing Knife Through Window In Westbury
WESTBURY, N.Y. — A 27-year-old Westbury man was shot by Nassau County Police Monday night after authorities say he charged an occupied unmarked patrol vehicle armed with a large knife, smashing through the passenger-side window in an attack on two officers inside.
Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder detailed the violent encounter during a Tuesday morning news conference, describing the incident as an unprovoked attack that unfolded in a matter of seconds in Westbury.
According to Ryder, officers first received a 911 call at approximately 11 p.m. reporting a man who was acting irrationally and attempting to stab people with a large knife. At roughly the same time, officers assigned to the Bureau of Special Operations were responding to an unrelated call when they spotted a man matching the suspect's description and requested additional units.
As the officers approached in an unmarked police vehicle, police say the suspect, later identified as Adrian Thompson, 27, of Westbury, suddenly emerged from behind nearby bushes and charged directly toward the occupied SUV before the officers had an opportunity to exit the vehicle.
Authorities said Thompson drove the knife through the passenger-side window, shattering the glass and sending it into the vehicle as an officer sat inside.
"They didn't get a chance to even get out of their car when he charged the vehicle and started smashing," Commissioner Ryder said.
According to police, the officer seated in the passenger seat turned as the knife came through the shattered window and fired several rounds in an effort to stop the attack but did not strike Thompson.
Police said Thompson then ran toward the rear of the patrol vehicle. The officer driving the SUV exited, confronted Thompson behind the vehicle, and fired a single shot, striking him in the face.
Ryder said the bullet entered one side of Thompson's jaw and exited through the other side of his face.
Thompson was transported by police to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, where he remains hospitalized. Ryder said the suspect is recovering from his injuries and has since been interviewed by detectives.
The two Bureau of Special Operations officers involved in the incident were also transported to a local hospital for evaluation. Police said both officers were treated and are doing well.
During Tuesday's briefing, Ryder displayed photographs of the large knife recovered at the scene, along with Thompson's booking photograph.
Police said Thompson had one previous interaction with Nassau County officers on April 13 during a mental health-related incident after reports that he was acting irrationally. After speaking with Thompson's parents, Ryder described him as "a well-educated individual, obviously going through some depression," adding that Thompson had previously attended Columbia University as a medical student.
Thompson has been charged with two counts of menacing a police officer, though Ryder said investigators are consulting with the Nassau County District Attorney's Office regarding additional or upgraded charges.
Because Thompson remains hospitalized under medical observation, police said it has not yet been determined when he will be arraigned. Ryder noted that a bedside arraignment at the hospital remains a possibility.
The shooting remains under investigation, which is standard procedure following any police-involved shooting in Nassau County.
“It's a tough day," Ryder added. "No officer ever comes to want to fire that weapon, but they're going to do what they have to do to protect themselves and our communities. And this is the decision that gets made within a second."
