Body camera footage showing Luis Padilla, who was later shot by an NYPD officer, surrounded by police in his Maspeth basement (Source: NYPD)
April 13, 2021 By Christian Murray
The NYPD released video footage of a man shot twice by a police officer inside his basement in Maspeth earlier this year.
The incident, which may be disturbing to watch, took place on the evening of Friday, Jan 8 after police received a 911 call at around 6:20 p.m. that a man was hallucinating at his home at 54-55 64th St.
The police responded after an unidentified woman called 911 requesting medical and police assistance. The caller said that the man– identified as 41-year-old Luis Padilla– was in possession of a machete and destroying the basement.
The footage, which came from the body cameras of several officers, shows a distraught man pulling out a knife—before an officer fired two rounds at him and another cop tasered him. The shots were not fatal.
Several officers from the 104th Precinct arrived on the scene. The footage is taken by cameras worn by officers Stephen Sheehan, Ryan McMahon, Steven Parsell and Liam Dale.
Upon arrival, they discovered Padilla and questioned him about his drug use. Police had visited him earlier that same day and he was taken to Elmhurst Hospital after being on drugs. He was then released from hospital hours later.
There was another man in the basement whose face and name was not shown in the footage. He could be heard speaking to officers.
“He broke up with some f–king broad,” the unidentified man told police. “He started smoking some [crystal] meth and had a bad f—king trip. He was suicidal…they took him to Elmhurst and released him.”
Padilla also claimed that someone was trying to get him and they were in the pipes of the house.
Cops asked Padilla about his drug use and he conceded that he had used meth but not since he got back from the hospital.
“I was fine at the hospital,” Padilla told the officers. “Then I got home and things started changing.”
Padilla also told officers that his phone had broken.
“I think my phone was hacked,” he said. “With everything else going on, it makes it sound like I’m crazy.”
He also said that his phone was emitting a high-pitched noise.
Padilla, whose head was in his hands, was calm for the most part until an officer suggested he get medical help.
“We just have to call EMS and figure everything else after that,” the officer said.
Padilla then panicked and reached into his pants and pulled out a 5 1/2 inch knife—although it was not pointed at the officers.
“I’m not going back to the f–king hospital,” he yelled.
McMahon fired his taser at Padilla, knocking him off his feet onto a stairwell. Video then shows Sheehan firing his gun twice striking him in his lower and upper back.
As they were shooting, the unidentified man can be heard yelling at the cops.
“Don’t shoot him,” the man said. “No, no, please.”
Padilla was taken to Elmhurst Hospital in critical condition where he was treated. He was later released.
He was charged with one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. The Queens District Attorney’s office is prosecuting the case.
Luis Padilla was wielding this knife at 54-55 64th St. before he was shot by an NYPD officer from the 104th Precinct (NYPD and Google)
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21 Comments
WHY SHOOT A GUY AFTER YOU TASERED HIM!?!?!? FOUR COPS TO ONE POOR DISTRAUGHT GUY AND YOU STILL HAD TO SHOOT HIM!?!?!?!?
Police responded to a call of “UNREST” at the location.
Many people die from knife wounds: Nicole Brown Simpson, Ron Goldman and SHARON TATE were among the victims of knife-violence. Shhhhh don’t tell the public that #knivescankill
Honestly, I am thinking the people who called the cops for help will not likely call them for help in the future. It seemed like they should have given the taser a few seconds to see if it made him drop the knife. He was already on the ground. Tough one.
Mental health issues and drug abuse is a horrible thing to deal with. Whether you have it or deal with someone who has it. Its hell.
I moved twice from homes because of mentally ill or drug addicted neighbors. Police do not do anything unless the person is a risk to themselves or others. So basically you got to deal with lots of daily nuisances and fears.
The police officers were so patient with Padilla. I sure hope he gets the help he needs for his safety and others. I am glad there will be no protesting or looting over this.
Padilla was just released from Elmhurst General Hospital. I see their mental health system is working at its peak efficiency.
Police are not equipped to handle mental health calls.. and will never be. Defund and reallocate more $$$ into social services. Most mental health professionals know that in a crisis situation, you never mention hospitalization to the subject… but y’all go head and get your laughs though…
dudes treated for two gunshot wounds to the back smh!
I don’t understand, why shoot him a second time if he is already lying on the stairs?
Let’s be real for a sec…yes he had I knife but NO officer was in immediate danger be when he started running, nor when he fell. ABSOLUTELY no reason to have used lethal force!
So he discharged his gun at the guy while he was being tasered? Ummm
Police have no idea about severe mentally disabled of the mind… 5 cops surrounding the man only confounded the ending….
Mental illness is usually a progressive type of illness. In many instances if not most, it starts out as what seem to be slight personality disorders like OCD, repetitive speech patterns or an extreme fixation on news events and political views. These symptoms then advances to the point of debilitating obsession and radicalization. In many cases certain medications like antidepressants, diet and environmental changes like turning off the TV or radio can help in minimizing affects and “melt downs”. This is just some examples.
Unarmed Social workers should of been called to the scene first. The hospital should of kept him for observation. If you sense someone is in danger of hurting themselves or others you need to tell hospital staff this while they are receiving hospital care. Otherwise hospitals will continue to release dangerous patients back to the community and fudge reports not to take blame. I do not know a lot about the above victim but many times mentally ill people resort to drugs and alcohol to cope instead of taking prescribed meds.
distraught? why dont you tell the truth and put in the title that the guy shot was high on meth? the liberal media is always looking to cause trouble with false titles.
Boondy- Fox idiocy is the new conservative media. If the guy was on meth the DA would have been able to determine this from samples provided at the hospital and Padilla would have been charged with being under the influence. Obviously this person was not “high on meth” or he would have been charged. Try to stick to the facts.
With weed legalized in NY and some people mixing weed with dangerous hallucinogens the NYPD needs to be retrained and educated on how to deal with people who are delusional or hallucinating. Would you want yourself or a loved one shot because they were having a mental breakdown? “Padilla then panicked and reached into his pants and pulled out a 5 1/2 inch knife—although it was not pointed at the officers.’ No one was in danger!!
So if he’s high on meth he deserves to be shot?
Absolutely.