2 police officers chased fare evaders and accidentally shot and injured a passenger. The city government was sued for 80 million yuan.

In a recent incident that has ignited considerable debate, two NYPD officers shot at a man in a Brooklyn subway station last month, unintentionally injuring two innocent bystanders. The man, described as ticketless and armed with a knife, was engaged by the officers following a brief pursuit. Among the injured was Gregory Delpeche, a 49-year-old hospital worker who suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

Delpeche’s family has since filed a lawsuit against the city, seeking $80 million in damages. They claim the officers acted recklessly, particularly noting the use of firearms by Officer Alex Wong, a Chinese-American officer.

According to police statements and video evidence, the incident occurred on September 15, shortly after 3 PM at the Sutter Avenue station on the L line. Officers from the 73rd precinct confronted a man named Derrell Mickles, who was fare evading and brandishing a knife. Officers Wong and Edmund Mays repeatedly ordered Mickles to drop the weapon, but he ignored their commands and behaved provocatively.

Attempts to subdue Mickles with a Taser were unsuccessful, and surveillance footage shows him charging at Officer Mays. As he turned to face Officer Wong, both officers opened fire—Officer Wong discharged six rounds while Officer Mays fired three—resulting in the injuries of Delpeche and another 26-year-old female bystander.

Delpeche’s family is holding the NYPD accountable, asserting that the officers acted “recklessly.” Legal documents reveal that Delpeche currently experiences “multiple cognitive deficits” and communication difficulties due to the shooting. He contends that the decision to fire their weapons during the confrontation was “reckless, negligent, and unjustified.”

The lawsuit also alleges that Officer Wong was holding his firearm with one hand, which reportedly caused his weapon to shake uncontrollably during the incident. Delpeche claims that Officer Mays fired in the direction of numerous passengers on the platform and inside the train.

Witnesses indicate that before firing their weapons, the officers commanded Mickles to relinquish the knife thirty-eight times. During the gunfire exchange, Mickles was struck, and Officer Mays also sustained a gunshot wound. Delpeche was shot in the back of the head; his attorney, Nicholas Liakas, mentioned that Delpeche remains hospitalized and requires constant care, with a bleak prognosis.

The lawsuit charges New York City, contending that since 2021, the city has encouraged officers to utilize excessive force without regard for public safety. However, police officials argue that the responsibility lies with Mickles, who escalated the situation and posed a threat to the officers.

NYPD Patrol Chief John Chell remarked that the incident was fast-paced and tense, asserting that the officers tried their best to protect themselves and the public. He noted that “the 2 minutes and 26 seconds of this incident were complex, involving an unstable individual armed with a deadly weapon, while a loaded train was approaching the elevated platform.”

Mickles faces multiple charges, including assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon, intent to cause serious injury with a knife, and illegal possession of a weapon, as well as two charges related to fare evasion. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges.