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NYPD's Fatal Shooting of Knife-Wielding Woman Investigated

Billy Parker

Published Apr 9, 2009

Modified Apr 9, 2009

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Billy Parker

Published Apr 9, 2009

Modified Apr 9, 2009

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Yesterday's shooting by NYPD officers of a woman who was repeatedly stabbing a cop with a 12-inch knife could have been prevented if a Taser could have been used at the scene of the incident. But the dangerous conditions of the woman's Canarsie apartment that police entered into wouldn't allow it.

The landlord of the building called 911 after smelling gas coming from inside 48-year-old Ginette Denize's apartment and not getting any response from her. Police and firefighters then entered the apartment to discover all four burners on the unlit stove emitting gas, a setup that could have caused the building to blow up if a stun gun was used.

When the the cops encountered Denize in her bedroom, they saw that she had a large kitchen knife and told her to put it down. While they began backing up, one of the cops fell, prompting Denize to lunge at him and begin stabbing. One of the firefighters who witnessed the incident said, "She was screaming. The officer fell down and she really went to work on him.” The other two responding officers then fired a total of five shots, two of which struck Denize in the chest, killing her.

Police had responded to four 911 calls to the apartment in the previous eight days, including one where Denize had threatened to burn down the building. Denize's landlord was attempting to evict her since she had not paid rent in four or five months. Police said that none of the previous calls had indicated that she was emotionally disturbed or required a doctor's care. A neighbor yesterday told reporters, “She had her own problems, let’s leave it at that.”

29-year-old Paul O'Connor of the Bronx, a 3-year-NYPD vet, was the victim of the stabbing attack. The stabbings left nerve damage in his hands, a potentially career-threatening injury. Denize was also able to tear through his jacket and turtleneck, but did not break the skin (of his torso). He is being treated at Kings County Hospital. The two cops who shot Denize both tested negative for alcohol and had no previous shootings on record.

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canarsie

edp

nypd

shooting

stabbing

taser

Billy Parker

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