- NYPD body camera footage shows a tense January 8 standoff at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital that ended when Michael Lynch, 62, was shot.
- Multiple 911 calls around 5:30 p.m. reported a suicidal, armed patient on the eighth floor, prompting emergency police and hospital response.
- Officers confronted Lynch blocking a blood-smeared doorway while an elderly patient and a hospital security guard remained inside the room.
- Tasers failed to stop Lynch as he advanced with a broken toilet fixture; officers fired three times, then he was pronounced dead.
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — Newly released NYPD body camera footage captured a tense standoff inside NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital that ended when Michael Lynch, 62, was shot after advancing toward officers while holding a makeshift blade. Lynch was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
911 Calls Triggered Emergency Response
The confrontation began just before 5:30 p.m. on January 8, after multiple 911 calls reported a patient in distress on the hospital’s eighth floor. In one call heard in the released footage, a hospital employee described the patient as suicidal, armed, and actively harming himself while staff tried to contain the situation.
Barricade Inside Eighth-Floor Room
When officers reached the floor, the video shows them outside a blood-smeared room where Lynch was blocking a partially open doorway. Reports indicate an elderly patient and a hospital security guard were inside the room during the barricade.
Commands Repeated as Weapon Identified
In the footage, officers repeatedly order Lynch to drop what authorities identified as a broken piece of a toilet fixture being used as a weapon. The standoff continues for several minutes, with officers maintaining position in the hallway while trying to get him to comply.
Tasers Deployed Before Shots Fired
The bodycam video shows officers deploying Tasers during the encounter, but the shocks did not stop Lynch. Moments later, Lynch moved toward officers holding the makeshift weapon.
Officer Jason Lui fired one round as other officers attempted to use Tasers. The footage then shows additional Taser deployments, and officers Brandon Bradley and Lui firing more shots as Lynch continued advancing. Authorities stated a total of three shots were fired.
Hospital Lockdown and Ongoing Review
Following the shooting, Lynch was taken into custody and treated at the same hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The incident prompted a lockdown at the facility.
A review of the use of force remains ongoing under standard procedure.
For more cases related to hospital emergencies, police bodycam footage, and officer-involved shootings, check out our video here:
