Unprovoked attack
NYPD Commissioner Bratton says the officers were recent graduates of the Police Academy assigned to 103rd Precinct in Jamaica, Queens. They were at the intersection of 162nd Street and Jamaica Ave. when the attack took place. Bratton:
[The suspect] charged at the officers with a hatchet in his hand. Unprovoked and not speaking a word, the male then swung at one of the officers with a hatchet, striking his right arm. After striking that officer, the suspect continuing swinging the hatchet, striking a second officer in the head.
Kraft is reported to have been struck in the head and Meeker was struck in the arm. Kraft was in surgery Thursday night while Meeker was examined and released. The report doesn’t mention Healey. A 29-year-old female bystander was also struck by a bullet fired by the police, as two officers opened fire and shot Thompson dead at the scene. The bystander underwent surgery at Jamaica Hospital, where she’s recovering.
‘Heightened concern’
NYPD Commissioner Bratton says there is no indication that Thompson’s attack is related to the attacks in Canada or to extremist ideology, but says this is still being investigated:
I think certainly the heightened concern is relative to that type of assault based on what just happened in Canada.
New York demonstrators
New York demonstrators fill the streets in Times Square and NYPD Commissioner is sprayed with fake blood. Demonstrator:
NYPD PC Bratton splattered with fake blood, perp arrested.
https://twitter.com/NYScanner/status/537096902219927552