Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office has launched an investigation into a tactical NYPD officer who accidentally discharged his weapon while clearing out anti-Israel agitators from a barricaded building on Tuesday. NYPD officials have stated that the discharge was unintentional and that no officers, members of the public, or protesters were in danger. Despite calls for the release of bodycam footage, the NYPD has no plans to do so in this incident. In total, 282 people were arrested during the crackdown at Columbia University and the City College of New York, with 74 individuals facing misdemeanor or more serious charges.
The incident at Columbia University started when anti-Israel agitators broke into Hamilton Hall and barricaded themselves inside, prompting the NYPD to get involved. During the operation, an officer accidentally fired a round into a door frame while using a firearm-mounted flashlight. Fortunately, no one was injured, and the NYPD quickly determined the discharge to be accidental. More than 100 people were arrested at Columbia, with 46 individuals arraigned on charges of criminal trespassing. The individuals were released on their own recognizance under New York’s bail reform law.
The NYPD sent bodycam footage of the incident to the DA’s office for review, and Bragg’s police accountability unit is now looking into the matter. Prosecutors have moved forward with charging some of the individuals arrested, with about half of them having no affiliation with the schools where the incidents occurred. The NYPD’s initial finding is that the discharge was accidental, with the officer moving his gun to his left hand to open a locked door after breaking a nearby window. The bullet went through the glass into an unlit room before being recovered on the floor.
Despite the accidental discharge, the NYPD maintains that no one but police personnel was in sight or sound of the incident. Officers had to navigate through barricades made of heavy furniture, chains, and other obstacles before encountering the occupiers in a classroom. Witnesses to the incident at Columbia expressed feeling alone and concerned about rising antisemitism on campus. Video footage shows the challenging conditions officers faced in breaching the barricades to reach the individuals inside the building. As the investigation continues, Bragg’s office is working to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
In total, 282 people were arrested during the crackdown at Columbia University and the City College of New York, with some individuals facing misdemeanor or more serious charges. The incident at Columbia University involved anti-Israel agitators breaking into a building and barricading themselves inside, leading to police involvement. Despite the accidental discharge of a weapon during the operation, no injuries were reported, and the NYPD quickly determined the incident to be unintentional. The individuals arrested have been released under New York’s bail reform law, with bodycam footage of the incident sent to the DA’s office for review.
