Man shot dead by police in East Harlem after 911 calls reported person with gun, NYPD says

NEW YORK – New York City police officers shot and killed a man in East Harlem after receiving several 911 calls from people concerned about an armed man in the neighborhood, police said.

The activation of ShotSpotter and the calls resulted in a heavy police presence overnight along Third Avenue at East 103rd Street, police said.

Police chief: Police officers asked man “several times” to drop weapon

Officials said they found a 62-year-old man with a gun in his hand near the George Washington House at 1875 Third Avenue shortly before 12:30 a.m. Sunday.

Officers repeatedly ordered him to drop the weapon, but he did not, according to the NYPD. Then two officers opened fire and shot him, police said.

“Officers verbally ordered the man to drop his weapon several times, but he did not comply. Both officers fired their weapons and struck the man. Officers immediately called for emergency services and performed CPR. The man was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead. A weapon was recovered at the scene and there are currently no suspects,” said Martine Materasso, head of the NYPD's housing authority.

The NYPD has released a photo of the weapon found at the crime scene in X.

The shooting remains under investigation. No one else was injured.

Neighbor called police after seeing a man with a gun in front of the George Washington Houses

A neighbor who wished to remain anonymous told CBS News New York's Kristie Keleshian that she called police several times after seeing the man threatening her friends outside with a gun.

“Without any provocation, he just came to me and asked for drugs… and if he hadn't gotten the drugs, he would have gone crazy,” said the neighbor. “He just walked around proudly with the gun.”

She said officers arrived within about three minutes.

She and other neighbors who spoke to CBS News New York said they had never seen the 62-year-old man before Sunday morning.

Neighbor Mike Montelongo was awakened by several shots fired by officers.

“I really thought it was fireworks and I looked up like, 'There are no fireworks, so what was that?'” he said.

Montelongo said the area where the shooting occurred is usually along his walking path at night. He has only lived in the city since May.

“I just moved here from Austin and am checking out the area again… I'm here with my mom,” he said.

Neighbors who said they were threatened by the 62-year-old said they were grateful to their neighbor for calling the police and possibly saving their lives.