NYPD Shooting of Queens Man Sparks Debate Over Mental Health Response

Family of Jabez Chakraborty believe police escalated situation, while NYPD says 911 call required their response.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 4:39pm

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The NYPD has released bodycam footage and 911 calls related to the recent shooting of 22-year-old Jabez Chakraborty in Queens. The Chakraborty family believes the police response escalated the situation unnecessarily, while the NYPD says the 911 call for involuntary transport automatically triggered a police response. The incident has reignited a debate over whether police are the appropriate responders for mental health crises.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenges in how law enforcement and the mental health system interact, especially when someone in crisis comes into contact with police. It raises questions about whether specialized mental health responders, rather than police, should be dispatched for certain 911 calls.

The details

The 911 call from January 26th shows a Chakraborty family member requesting "involuntary transportation" in an ambulance, indicating they had made similar calls before. The NYPD says any 911 call for involuntary transport automatically triggers a police response. Bodycam footage shows officers repeatedly telling Chakraborty to drop a knife before firing four shots when he advanced towards them.

  • The 911 call was made on January 26th.
  • The NYPD released bodycam footage of the shooting on February 3rd.
  • The 911 call was released by the NYPD on February 4th.

The players

Jabez Chakraborty

A 22-year-old Queens man who was shot by NYPD officers after they responded to a 911 call for involuntary transport.

Zohran Mamdani

The Mayor of New York City who campaigned on creating a Department of Community Safety for mental health crisis response.

David Sarni

A retired NYPD detective and current professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

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What they’re saying

“There was almost no time to do [de-escalation] because they just entered the apartment and that's when the knife gets brandished, knife gets picked up.”

— David Sarni, Retired NYPD detective and professor (CBS News New York)

“When police are on mental health calls, they're actually not well-equipped.”

— Simran Thind, Chakraborty family representative (CBS News New York)

What’s next

Mayor Mamdani has pledged to create a Department of Community Safety to handle mental health crisis response, which could change how similar incidents are handled in the future.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for specialized mental health responders, rather than traditional law enforcement, to handle 911 calls involving individuals experiencing a crisis. It underscores the challenges police face when responding to these situations and the potential for escalation when they are the primary responders.