Tragedy struck in the Bronx when NYPD police officer Brian Mulkeen was killed by friendly fire during a struggle with a suspect at the Edenwald Houses on Sunday evening, September 29.
The 33-year-old-Mulkeen was assigned to the Bronx Borough Anti-Crime Unit and was assisting the department’s Housing Service Area 8 within the 47th Precinct the night of the incident, according to the NYPD.
Present for a gang related investigation, Mulkeen and two fellow officers went to question a suspect, later identified as Binghampton, NY ex-con Antonio Lavance Williams.
Upon confrontation Williams fled on foot with Mulkeen and his partner in pursuit. A violent struggle ensued on the ground, the NYPD said.
Fellow officers then fired their weapons, hitting both Mulkeen and Williams, killing both the officer and suspect.
Mulkeen was quickly transported to Jacobi Hospital but could not be resuscitated, the police confirmed on Monday, September 30.
Previous reports indicated that Mulkeen was shot by Williams, who was reaching for the officer’s gun while in possession of a .32 caliber revolver, according to the NYPD and published radio transmissions of the struggle.
“He’s reaching for it, he’s reaching for it!” were some of police officer Mulkeen’s final words before the fatal shots were fired.
Williams, 27-year-old, was on probation until 2022 for a narcotics-related arrest last year, the NYPD reported.
He also had several prior arrests in various places, including a burglary conviction in Rockland County.
Mulkeen lived in Yorktown Heights and during his college years was a track star at Fordham University. He had a girlfriend that was an NYPD member assigned to the 44th Precinct.
Shortly after graduating FU with a Business degree, he decided to leave the financial sector to join the NYPD.
As of press time there have not been any memorials planned for police officer Mulkeen besides his wake and funeral, which were held in northern Weschester this week.
The NYPD explained that the Edenwald Houses are still an active crime scene, which my explain why there have not been any comemerations planned yet.
Many Bronx officials sounded off on the tragedy that unfurled at the NYCHA complex that Sunday.
Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. took to Twitter expressing his condolences to Mulkeen’s loved ones.
“Please keep the family and friends of PO Mulkeen in your thoughts,” Diaz said. “Very sad, rest in peace,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Councilman Andy King shared very adamant thoughts about a police officer being killed in his district as well.
“It has been another sad night in the Bronx as we mourn the loss of another life. A police officer was shot and killed in the line of duty. Where does this senseless violence end?” King sadly questioned.
The commanding officer of PSA 8, Captain Keiyon S. Ramsey also shared his somber thoughts on the shooting of police officer Mulkeen.
“This hurts me personally and immensely for reasons only those present can understand,” he said.
“To our beloved warriors in NYPD Bronx Borough Crime and the family of the finest of our finest, Brian Mulkeen, we suffer alongside you,” the captain concluded.
