Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYPD officer kills ‘emotionally disturbed’ man holding knife to mom’s throat in Bronx apartment, police say
By
Jessy Edwards
Published Dec 23, 2023
Modified Dec 24, 2023
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
VW Pics via Getty Images
By
Jessy Edwards
Published Dec 23, 2023
Modified Dec 24, 2023
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
An NYPD officer shot and killed a 30-year-old man who was holding a knife to his mother’s throat in a Bronx apartment Saturday morning, police say.
Two officers responded to a 911 call from a 13th floor apartment at 2865 Creston Avenue in Bedford Park at around 11:15am, NYPD chief of patrol John Chell said at a press conference on Saturday.
On Sunday, police identified the man who was killed as Michael Dotel.
When they arrived at the apartment, a 19-year-old came running out of the apartment with a slice wound on her face, he said.
Inside the apartment, cops found Dotel holding his 45-year-old mother in a “front-headlock” with a carving knife held to her throat, Chell said. The mom was injured and bleeding.
The officers told Dotel to drop the knife “multiple times” and then an officer shot him in the head, Chell said. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
“Every day our cops respond to calls for emotionally disturbed people and it’s a tough job for our cops to handle these, they always look for the best outcome for the family and for the emotionally disturbed person,” Chell said. He said the officers involved each had a little over two years on the force.
“Today was a complete tragedy during this holiday season.”
Chell said there was a history of domestic violence at the apartment, according to police records. He said police did not have a record of a history of mental illness for the son.
Chell said he didn’t know what triggered the incident, but said that Dotel told his family he was going to kill them and then himself. The incident was caught on NYPD body-worn cameras, he said.
Police continue to investigate the incident.
This story was updated Sunday after police released the name of the man who was killed.
Jessy Edwards
Jessy Edwards covers incarceration and public safety. Before working at Gothamist/WNYC, she covered daily and breaking news at NBC New York and Brooklyn news at BK Reader. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 2:49 p.m. ET
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
News
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Charles Lane
Ex-Adams aide accused of pocketing kickbacks from community program funds
By
Samantha Max
MTA to begin 6-year project to upgrade signal tech on A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .