Bodycam Footage of Man Shot by NYPD Cops in Manhattan

Manhattan, New York — June 4, 2024

The New York City Police Department has released body-worn camera footage following an officer-involved shooting that occurred on the morning of June 4 in the East Village. The incident involved a knife-wielding man, later identified as 55-year-old Peyman Bahadoran, and resulted in two officers discharging their firearms. The shooting occurred after a confrontation inside a local deli, escalating into a potentially deadly situation.

At approximately 6:38 a.m., Police Officer Jillian Suarez and her partner, Police Officer Melissa Brown—both in uniform and assigned to patrol in the 9th Precinct—entered the deli as part of their routine duties. Shortly after their arrival, Bahadoran entered the store behind Officer Brown and immediately began yelling at her in an aggressive manner. Without warning, he pulled a twelve-inch "Defender Xtreme" knife from a sheath attached to his right leg and brandished it toward the officer in a threatening manner.

In response to the imminent threat, Officer Brown attempted to subdue Bahadoran using her conducted electrical weapon, commonly known as a Taser. However, the deployment proved ineffective as the probes failed to make proper contact with the suspect. With the Taser unable to stop him, Officer Brown moved behind the store’s counter for cover while Officer Suarez exited the deli and requested emergency backup over her portable radio.

While inside the deli, Bahadoran briefly shifted his attention toward a store employee. Reports indicate he demanded a pack of cigarettes while still holding the knife. In a critical moment, when Bahadoran placed the weapon on the counter to retrieve the cigarettes, the quick-thinking employee seized the opportunity to grab the knife and handed it over to Officer Brown, effectively disarming the suspect.

Despite being temporarily disarmed, the situation escalated again when Bahadoran exited the deli and confronted Officer Suarez at the entrance. Suarez, who had drawn her service firearm, ordered Bahadoran to stop. Instead, he shoved her backwards as he forced his way out of the store. Additional units arrived moments later in response to Officer Suarez’s radio call, including Police Officer Bryan Rozanski, Police Officer Michael Murphy, and Lieutenant Luis Machado.

As officers surrounded the suspect outside the deli, they issued repeated commands for him to comply and stand down. Bahadoran did not respond to the commands. Instead, he reached toward the empty sheath still strapped to his leg and suddenly lunged in the direction of Lieutenant Machado. At that moment, Officers Suarez and Rozanski each fired a single round from their service weapons.

Bahadoran was struck twice—once in the left arm and once in the lower back. Officers immediately moved in to secure him and began administering first aid. A tourniquet was applied to his arm to control the bleeding while medical assistance was en route. Emergency medical personnel soon arrived on the scene and transported Bahadoran to Bellevue Hospital, where he was admitted and treated for his injuries. He survived the shooting.

Body-worn cameras were activated and recording during the incident by Officers Suarez and Murphy. However, Lieutenant Machado and Officers Brown and Rozanski were not equipped with body-worn cameras at the time of the event. The footage from Suarez and Murphy is being reviewed as part of the department's standard investigation into officer-involved shootings.

Following the incident, Peyman Bahadoran was formally charged with several offenses, including Robbery in the First Degree, Menacing a Police Officer, Menacing in the Second Degree, and Menacing in the Third Degree. The NYPD has stated that a full investigation is underway and that the use of force will be reviewed in accordance with department policy and legal standards.

The case highlights the dangers officers face during routine patrols and the split-second decisions that must be made when lives are at risk. The department has pledged transparency as the investigation proceeds.