Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Police shoot, critically injure Bronx man threatening his mother with knife, NYPD says
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published May 2, 2025
Modified May 2, 2025
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 .
Brittany Kriegstein / Gothamist
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published May 2, 2025
Modified May 2, 2025
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
Police shot and critically wounded a man who was threatening his mother with a knife in their Bronx apartment late Thursday, according to NYPD officials.
Chief of Patrol Philip Rivera told reporters at the scene that officers went to a building on Mulford Avenue and Libby Place in Pelham Bay after receiving a 911 call around 11:20 p.m. about a man with a knife who was attempting to harm himself.
Rivera said the call was placed by a security guard who was working for the building and heard screaming coming from the family’s apartment.
When police arrived at the door, they were let in by a family member and saw a 34-year-old man holding his 61-year-old mother at knifepoint at the back of the apartment, according to Rivera.
“He had his left arm around his mother’s neck and a large kitchen knife in his right hand,” he said. “Our officers engaged the male in dialogue in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.”
Police spent two and a half minutes trying to get the man to drop the knife and free his mother, but he made “numerous threats” to kill her and moved the knife toward her neck, said Rivera.
At that point, one of the officers fired a round, striking the man in the head and allowing his mother to escape his grasp, according to the chief of patrol. The man was taken to Jacobi Hospital in critical condition and his mother was not injured, Rivera said.
Rivera said the officers involved were taken to a local hospital for evaluation and the entire incident was captured on their body-worn cameras.
Dominick Ribustello, a Connecticut resident, told Gothamist by phone Friday that the man police shot is his son, Daniel Ribustello.
“All I know is that my son is in really bad shape, but he’s stable,” said Dominick, adding that he visited his son at Jacobi Hospital after learning what had happened. “My son did have troubles, but no inkling that he would ever do anything like this.”
The older Ribustello said he was not sure why Daniel allegedly threatened the woman, who he said is his ex-wife. He said doctors had put Daniel in an induced coma.
NYPD officials confirmed Daniel Ribustello was involved in the incident, but said they did not yet know whether police had been called to the home in the past.
Next-door neighbor Patricia Dilapi said that after police shot the man, his mother came to her apartment in distress. Dilapi said she had never noticed any commotion with the family since they moved into the building a few years ago.
The department’s force investigation division is reviewing the incident, according to officials.
It was the second time an NYPD officer shot someone during a confrontation this week, according to police.
Police said they shot and killed Pennsylvania resident Jumaane Wright, 28, on Tuesday night in Brooklyn after catching him driving a stolen Porsche on the Belt Parkway. Officials said Wright almost crashed into officers who were attempting to block him from driving farther, and that is when an officer fired at him, according to police.
So far this year, NYPD officers have fatally shot four people, including Wright, according to police data compiled by Gothamist.
This story has been updated with additional information.
Tagged
new york city
Pelham Bay
public safety
bronx
Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC voters appear poised to approve outdoor dining, bike lane ballot measures
All five proposed changes to the city charter are leading, including measures to streamline outdoor dining permits and speed up bike and bus lane projects.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Nov 3, 2026 at 9:56 p.m. ET
Rebecca Bennett flips NJ Republican House seat for Democrats
A newcomer to New Jersey politics, Bennett won in what was once considered a safe Republican district, helping Democrats in their attempt to retake the House of Representatives.
By
Mike Hayes
and
Karen Yi
News
Rebecca Bennett flips NJ Republican House seat for Democrats
A newcomer to New Jersey politics, Bennett won in what was once considered a safe Republican district, helping Democrats in their attempt to retake the House of Representatives.
By
Mike Hayes
and
Karen Yi
Mamdani allies Valdez, Avila Chevalier win House seats for New York
By
Jon Campbell
Kathy Hochul re-elected New York governor, defeats Bruce Blakeman
By
Jon Campbell
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Walter Wuthmann
Republican Rep. Mike Lawler concedes to Cait Conley after voting machine snafu
By
Karen Yi
and
Jon Campbell
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 .