A butcher knife-wielding man who attacked a civilian and then invaded the 109th Precinct in Flushing is in a coma, in critical condition at New York Hospital Queens, after he was shot multiple times by police.
On Thursday, June 4 at about 11 a.m., the unidentified victim – a 48-year-old Hispanic male, according to police sources – emerged from the precinct at 37-05 Union Street, at which point he was allegedly stabbed in the back by Armando Torres, 35, of 147-25 Northern Boulevard.
According to a police source, the victim turned to face his attacker and was slashed on the left arm with a “13-inch knife.” He is reportedly in stable condition in the hospital.
A department spokesperson said that Torres then entered the precinct and was confronted by police personnel as he approached the desk.
Cops ordered him to drop the knife. When he refused and lunged at an officer, a uniformed cop and two Detectives fired at Torres, possibly five times, according to police sources.
The department spokesperson said that Torres was removed to the hospital with three bullet wounds, in the left arm and torso, and he was in “critical but stable condition.” The victim’s wounds were described as “not life threatening.”
Two police officers were removed to the hospital on stretchers and in neck braces, while a detective was removed in a wheelchair, with possible neck and back injuries.
The department spokesperson however, said he was “unaware of any injuries” to police in the incident and that the knife was recovered, with the eight-inch blade broken from the five-inch handle.
Another female uniformed officer was also taken to the hospital, according to the department source, who could not say whether she was involved in the incident.
A department source reportedly said that Torres has a record of prior arrests, including for assaulting a police officer.
