Two NYPD officers wounded in Brooklyn shooting during response to domestic violence call

Two New York Police Department (NYPD) officers have been shot while responding to a domestic violence call, according to official statements.

NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban characterized the response as a routine patrol call, emphasizing the absence of anything truly routine in law enforcement. Despite the challenges posed by the situation, Commissioner Caban expressed gratitude for the officers’ survival, stating, “Our officers are lucky to be alive.”

The incident unfolded at the intersection of Bergen Street and Saratoga Avenue in Brooklyn, where the officers were summoned to assist in an ongoing assault. Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny disclosed that the distress call came from a female resident reporting an assault in progress involving her son, identified as Melvin Butler.

Butler, resisting arrest, managed to seize one of the officers’ firearms and proceeded to shoot both law enforcement officials – one in the hand and the other in the thigh.

Speaking from NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, Commissioner Caban underscored the gravity of the situation. Inside the medical facility, the wounded officers were in the process of recovery. The ensuing exchange of gunfire resulted in multiple shots fired at Butler, leaving him seriously injured but with an expected chance of survival. The Enforcement Investigation Unit is diligently examining body-worn camera footage to comprehensively scrutinize the incident from all angles.

Melvin Butler, already with a history of domestic violence charges and a prior conviction for attempted murder, remains under investigation.

The authorities noted that this incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by law enforcement officers, recalling the tragic deaths of officers Wilber Mora and Jason Rivera two years ago during a similar domestic violence response. However, in this case, the community expressed relief as the wounded officers, Wilber Mora and Jason Rivera, are expected to return home to their families following their recovery.