NEW YORK – The family of a man who was fatally shot by police officers in Brooklyn this weekend speaks out.
Andre Mayfield, 26, was killed.
His family spoke out on Tuesday, condemning the way the police responded.
What the police say happened
Police say Mayfield approached officers while holding knives.
According to police, Mayfield was walking on Eldert Street near Central Avenue in Bushwick at 2:30 a.m. Sunday. He tapped on the window of the police vehicle, and when officers got out, police said Mayfield had a knife in each hand and allegedly charged at them.
Authorities said the officers tried to verbally de-escalate the situation before using their stun guns, and when they didn’t work, they fired multiple shots, killing him.
“These are real weapons, people. I don’t know how to make this clear. These are real weapons. And you have to make a decision about every tool that is available to you. How do you try to disarm this person,” Mayor said Eric Adams.
Mayfield’s family is speaking out
Family ceremony
“He’s such a sweet boy. I don’t know what happened,” said grandmother Jackie Mayfield. ‘His smile, his conversations. He was such an uplifting person. If he had a shirt and you needed it, he would give it to you.”
Mayfield’s loved ones said he suffered from depression and mental health issues. They said there should have been a social worker too.
“They know the language to use to de-escalate a little better,” said family member Nyale Jenkins-Mabry. “I’ve never heard him carry any weapons.”
Friends and family signed a poster Tuesday that read “Rest in Paradise.” They lit candles and comforted the family.
“He’s very funny. He likes to listen to Jackson 5, James Brown. He’s usually in his own world. He doesn’t really pay much attention to others unless you know him and call him out, he would talk to you,” says Jenkins – said Mabry.
New York City has the B-Heard program, where healthcare workers respond to 911 calls when there is a mental health issue. However, in this case there was no emergency call; Mayfield allegedly tapped on the window of the officers’ vehicle.
CBS New York has requested access to body camera footage of the incident.
