NYPD Bodycam Drops—Knife Chaos Erupts

When a family begs 911 for an ambulance during a schizophrenia episode, but police arrive first and a kitchen knife comes out, the country is forced to confront what “crisis response” really means in the real world.

Story Snapshot

NYPD released bodycam video from a Jan. 26, 2026, Queens incident where an officer shot 22-year-old Jabez Chakraborty after he advanced with a large kitchen knife.
Chakraborty’s family says they requested EMS for involuntary hospital transport, not police, and now wants charges dropped and more footage released.
Police and union representatives argue the video shows rapid escalation with little time to de-escalate once the knife was raised and the officers were rushed.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani is using the case to push a “Department of Community Safety” concept while acknowledging police would still respond to violent threats.
The Queens District Attorney’s investigation and NYPD internal review are ongoing; Chakraborty remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.

What the Bodycam Footage Shows in Queens

NYPD says officers responded to a 911 call from Chakraborty’s family at their home in Queens, in the Jamaica Hills/Briarwood area along Parsons Boulevard. Reports describe a mental health episode tied to schizophrenia, including throwing glass. After officers entered, Chakraborty grabbed a large kitchen knife, advanced despite commands, and pushed through a doorway as an officer attempted to create distance. Officer Tyree White fired four shots, and Chakraborty was transported to a hospital.

Medical updates across reporting outlets say Chakraborty required surgeries and has remained in intensive care, described as critical but stable, including being placed on a ventilator at points in the aftermath. NYPD released the bodycam footage on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, framing the disclosure as part of transparency practices that have become standard after years of public demands for accountability. The footage’s central dispute is not whether a knife was present, but how preventable the moment was.

Why the Family Says This Was the Wrong Response

Chakraborty’s family has emphasized that their 911 call sought medical help for involuntary hospital transport rather than a police confrontation. Their public statements argue officers escalated the situation, and they have called for prosecutors to drop any potential case against him while also demanding additional video beyond what NYPD released. That dispute taps into a broader frustration many Americans share: when government systems fail to deliver the service requested, ordinary families are left dealing with consequences they didn’t choose.

Several uncertainties remain unresolved based on currently available reporting. The clearest open question is procedural: why police were dispatched in the lead position when the family requested EMS. Another is evidentiary: whether there is additional body-worn camera footage that could provide a wider angle, longer lead-up, or more context for what happened inside the home. Until investigators publish more detail, the public is left with partial information, while the family and officers live with the outcomes of a decision chain that began at the 911 console.

The Officer-Safety Reality in Fast-Moving Knife Encounters

Police accounts and expert commentary cited in coverage stress how quickly a call can turn lethal once a weapon is introduced at close range. A retired NYPD detective and John Jay College professor, David Sarni, said the officers’ actions matched training and that there was effectively no time to slow the situation once the knife appeared. The Police Benevolent Association also defended the officers, arguing the bodycam shows professional restraint under immediate threat.

Mayor Mamdani’s Policy Push Meets the Limits of “Non-Police” Promises

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly leaned toward treatment over prosecution, while still acknowledging that violent situations require a response capable of stopping harm. Coverage describes him shifting tone over time—initially praising police actions before meeting with the family and emphasizing alternatives. His administration’s discussion of a “Department of Community Safety” reflects a familiar political tension: voters want humane mental-health interventions, but they also expect government to protect innocent people, including family members and first responders, when a call turns violent.

The legal process now matters as much as the politics. The Queens District Attorney’s office is reviewing the case, including the possibility of serious charges tied to the alleged threat toward officers, while NYPD continues its internal review of the use of force. For Americans wary of government overreach, the priority should be a transparent investigation grounded in evidence, not narrative pressure. For families who call 911, the priority is just as clear: dispatch must send the right help fast—before a health crisis becomes a shooting.