Staten Island, NY – In a confrontation that unfolded on Monday, March 25th, 2024, an NYPD officer discharged his firearm after a suspect threatened him with a knife.

According to police, members of the Staten Island Warrant Squad, including Detective Genaro Barreiro, were attempting to apprehend 30-year-old Marcelino Allende, who was wanted for a previous assault involving a weapon. The investigation led the officers to Allende’s residence at 101 Daniel Low Terrace.

When Allende was spotted exiting his apartment through a window and onto the fire escape, officers ordered him to surrender. Allende refused and reentered the apartment. Detective Barreiro and other officers then entered the residence and located Allende in a bedroom, where he was found to be in possession of a knife.

Barreiro deployed a Taser, causing Allende to fall to the floor. However, Allende maintained his grip on the knife in his right hand. When Barreiro ordered Allende to drop the weapon and he refused, swinging the knife at the officer, Barreiro discharged a single shot from his service firearm. Fortunately, Allende was not struck by the gunfire.

Allende ultimately relinquished the knife and was taken into custody without further incident. He now faces a slew of charges, including Menacing a Police Officer, Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Menacing, Obstructing Governmental Administration, and Resisting Arrest.

The use of force by the NYPD officer is currently under investigation, as is standard protocol for any police-involved shooting. Authorities have stated that the release of body camera footage and further details will follow as the inquiry progresses.