NYPD Shoots and Kills Man Wielding Butcher Knife After Domestic Attack on Lower East Side
New York, NY — A 54-year-old man was fatally shot by New York City police officers on Sunday afternoon after charging at them with a large butcher knife following a violent domestic dispute inside a Lower East Side apartment building.
The incident unfolded around 4:06 p.m. on August 16, 2026, at 126 Ludlow Street, near Rivington Street. Officers responded to multiple 911 calls reporting an assault in progress. Upon entering the building, they discovered a trail of blood in the lobby leading up the staircase.
As officers ascended the stairs, they encountered Wei Chan, 54, coming down toward them armed with a large butcher’s knife. Police repeatedly ordered Chan to drop the weapon and show his hands. He refused.
When Chan lunged at the officers, they first deployed a Taser. It failed to stop him. Officers then fired at least four rounds, striking Chan. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Inside an upstairs apartment, officers found Chan’s father, 75-year-old Chung (also referred to as Cheung) Chan, suffering from a deep laceration to the head. Authorities said the injury was inflicted by his son during the domestic dispute. The elder Chan was also taken to the hospital and is expected to survive.
Four FDNY members who responded to the scene were transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
According to police, Wei Chan had no prior criminal record but had a documented history of mental health issues.
Assistant Police Chief Melissa Eger praised the officers’ actions, stating they “ran towards danger, not away from it” after seeing the blood trail and not knowing what awaited them upstairs.
Witnesses described emotional scenes outside the building, with some residents breaking down in tears as the aftermath unfolded. One nearby diner said she watched first responders perform CPR on the suspect and saw another man covered in blood being led away by police.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he had been briefed on the “tragic events” and wished the father a full recovery. He confirmed that an internal investigation would be conducted and that body-worn camera footage would be released.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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