Police in Suffolk County, N.Y. shot a 33-year-old man Tuesday afternoon after he allegedly charged at officers with a sword outside his home in what authorities believe was a suicide-by-cop attempt.
Officers responded around 1:30 p.m. to a 911 call from Joseph Restaino, who told dispatchers he was holding hostages and intended to harm them, according to CBS News. Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said Restaino, who has a history of mental illness, met officers at the door of his Ohio Avenue home wielding a large sword.
“[They were] met by a 33-year-old male with a large sword. The officers immediately instructed the individual to drop the weapon, at which point he unsheathes the sword, and starts advancing on the officers,” Catalina said.
Restaino unsheathed the blade and advanced toward the officers. One officer fired a Taser, which failed to stop him. As he continued forward, police opened fire, striking him in the chest.
Paramedics transported Restaino to South Shore University Hospital, where he underwent surgery. His condition was not immediately available, the New York Post reported. No hostages were found inside the home. Catalina said that after being shot, Restaino indicated he was suicidal.
Body camera footage captured the incident. “Two, three shots, or something like that,” neighbor Kevin Velez told CBS News. “I see four or five police running outside, too, trying to catch someone. The next time, I see the guy on the ground, by the grass in the house over there.”
Two police officers were taken to the hospital for trauma-related treatment.
(Featured Image Media Credit:Â Flickr/Photo by Shane T. McCoy / US Marshals)
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