NYPD Officer Opens Fire After Man Charges With Knife

 Brooklyn, New York — May 13, 2025

On the afternoon of May 13, 2025, at approximately 3:01 p.m., two officers from the New York City Police Department, Officer Humpf and his partner, Officer Jeffrey Cattani, responded to a 911 emergency call regarding a disturbance inside a residential building located near the intersection of Christopher Avenue and Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn. The caller reported that a man inside an apartment had made threats to harm another individual.

Upon arriving at the scene, Officers Humpf and Cattani interviewed the individual who had made the 911 call. The caller informed the officers that the person making the threats was 25-year-old Damon Louther. The situation was described as tense and potentially violent, prompting the officers to proceed with caution as they continued their investigation.

The officers, along with the caller, approached the apartment where Louther was reportedly located. After arriving at the unit, the officers entered the apartment and encountered Louther standing in the foyer. At first, the officers attempted to engage Louther in conversation to assess the situation and gain control of the scene without escalating it.

However, during the initial contact, the situation took a sudden and dangerous turn. Without warning, Louther retrieved a large knife from his waistband. He began advancing toward the officers while brandishing the weapon in his right hand in a threatening manner. The officers immediately gave verbal commands for Louther to drop the knife, but he refused to comply.

In an effort to de-escalate the confrontation and avoid the use of deadly force, Officer Cattani deployed his Conducted Electrical Weapon (commonly referred to as a Taser) in an attempt to subdue Louther. Unfortunately, the Taser was ineffective in stopping Louther, who continued to move aggressively toward the officers with the knife still in his hand.

Faced with a rapidly evolving and dangerous threat, Officer Humpf made the decision to use his service firearm. He discharged two rounds at Louther, striking him. The officers quickly moved to secure the scene, disarming Louther and placing him into custody. They immediately called for emergency medical services and began providing first aid while awaiting paramedics.

Louther was transported by ambulance to Brookdale Hospital Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. Despite efforts to save his life, he was later pronounced deceased at the hospital. No officers were physically injured during the incident.

The New York Police Department has launched an investigation into the incident, as is standard protocol following any officer-involved shooting. The officers' body-worn cameras were activated during the encounter, and the footage is being reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation. The NYPD's Force Investigation Division is leading the inquiry to determine whether all actions taken were in accordance with department policy and procedures.

Community members in the area expressed concern over the tragic outcome, though many acknowledged the challenges officers face in situations involving armed individuals. Police officials emphasized that the use of deadly force is always a last resort, and in this case, it followed multiple attempts to resolve the situation using less-lethal means.

As the investigation continues, the department has pledged transparency and cooperation with oversight agencies. The names of the officers involved and additional body camera footage may be released in accordance with departmental guidelines and applicable state laws.

The death of Damon Louther remains under review, and authorities are working to piece together the full circumstances that led to the confrontation and eventual shooting.