A butcher knife-wielding man who attacked a civilian and then invaded the109th Precinct in Flushing has been upgraded to “serious” from “critical” condition at New York Hospital Queens, after he was shot multiple times by police.
On Thursday, June 4 at about 11 a.m., 48-year-old Armando Ferreira emerged from the precinct at 37-05 Union Street with an acquaintance, after going to pick up an accident report.
He was allegedly stabbed in the back by Armando Torres, 35, of 147-25 Northern Boulevard, according to police sources.
Cops say Ferreira turned to face his attacker and was slashed on the left arm with a “13-inch knife.” The pair fled into the precinct, with Torres in pursuit, police said.
Inside, Torres was confronted by a Detective from the precinct’s Community Affairs Unit. “The detective made eye contact with the assailant and became the target of opportunity,” a confidential police source told The Queens Courier.
As Ferreira and friend fled to the rear of the precinct command, Torres, still clutching the knife started up the stairs to the second floor, according to a civilian witness who was there on a domestic matter.
With two detectives and a uniformed officer in pursuit, Torres returned to the ground floor, but would not drop the knife, despite the police ordering him to do so numerous times, according to the witness.
At the bottom of the stairs, Torres “comes at them with the knife,” according to a statement by NYPD chief spokesperson Paul J. Browne, Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.
The cop and two Detectives fired at Torres five times, striking him in the left arm and left side of his chest, Browne said. Torres staggered into the room and fell to the floor, breaking the knife, according to Browne. The pieces of the weapon were recovered.
Torres was removed to the hospital, where he remains, awaiting arraignment.
Ferreira’s wounds were described as “not life threatening.” He reportedly received three stitches to his arm at New York Hospital Queens and was able to return to the precinct afterwards.
According to Browne, none of the officers had ever fired their weapons at a suspect before that day. All three reportedly tested negative for alcohol, now a routine procedure after any police shooting incident, he said.
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.
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.
According to Browne, none of the cops were seriously injured. A source close to the incident characterized the cause for concern as “muscle pulls.”
Police records reportedly show that Torres was arrested in the 109th Precinct in 2007, for allegedly beating a roommate in the head with a metal bar and slashing his abdomen.
He reportedly pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of assault and subsequently received a conditional discharge.
