On Tuesday, October 18th, officers from the NYPD were sent to respond to a neighbor’s 911 complaint at the home of 66-year-old Deborah Danner. Officers had been called to her residence before, one call resulting in Danner, who officials say has schizophrenia, having to be removed from the building.
Officers, including NYPD Sgt. Hugh Barry, entered the apartment and allegedly saw Danner with scissors in her hand. Police say they gave her verbal commands to put down the scissors. When she put them down, officers say she then picked up a baseball bat and began charging toward Barry. Assistant Chief Larry Nikunen says the eight-year veteran then shot her twice in the torso. Danner was taken to the hospital, but it was too late. Sergeant Barry had a stun gun on his person when responding to the call but did not deploy it.
The NYPD is conducting an investigation, which includes determining why Barry’s stun gun was not used instead of his service revolver. State Senator Ruben Diaz released a statement that has us all asking the same question, why did a 66-year-old woman with multiple police officers in a room have to die like this?
My statement on tonight’s fatal #NYPD shooting in The #Bronx #BLM #blacklivesmatter https://t.co/8HxPyUFne6 pic.twitter.com/F0gk4yaL25
— Ruben Diaz Jr. (@rubendiazjr) October 19, 2016
