NYPD releases longer surveillance video before the fatal police shooting in Brooklyn
In an effort at transparency in the wake of last week's fatal police shooting of a mentally troubled man, the NYPD on Tuesday released another video of cops converging on the man in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
Police have said the shooting occurred within "seconds" and that cops yelled "drop it" to Vassell, who was struck seven to nine times. Vassell's family said he was bipolar.
Four officers fired 10 shots, later finding out that Vassell was holding a pipe/shower head, not a gun.
The officers, from a distance, can be seen approaching the suspect with guns drawn. Critics have since called for the department to release video of the entire incident.
The latest video, taken by a camera on a building about a half a block from the intersection where the shooting occurred, was silent.
The NYPD said they release the names of officers involved in shootings, citing officer's safety and security in fear of retribution. The NYPD is also committed to ensuring that the Attorney General can conduct a thorough and complete review.
The NYPD has released various videos and 911 calls to bolster the claim that Vassell appeared armed and unsafe at the time of the shooting.
{{file|t=aWwEw_1523465458}}