The family of 22-year-old Jabez Chakraborty—a Bangladeshi New Yorker shot by NYPD officers on Monday—is speaking out against what they describe as a brutal and unjustified use of force. The family says they were seeking medical care for their son, who was in emotional distress, when the incident occurred.
According to a statement released Friday, the Chakraborty family called 911 to request an ambulance, not police intervention. Instead, NYPD officers arrived at the home and allegedly shot the 22-year-old multiple times in front of his relatives.
“We called for help,” the family said in their statement. “We did not call the police. Instead of medical responders, the NYPD arrived and shot our son right in front of us.”
The family further alleges that following the shooting, officers confiscated their phones and interrogated them regarding their immigration status. They claim they were detained at a precinct while their son was transported to the hospital in critical condition and were initially denied visitation rights.
The statement draws parallels to the 2024 police killing of 19-year-old Win Rozario, another Bangladeshi youth shot by the NYPD in Queens after his family sought help for a mental health crisis.
With the assistance of the advocacy group Desis Rising Up & Moving (DRUM) and the New York City Public Advocate’s office, the family eventually retrieved their phones and secured hospital access. However, they report that NYPD officers continue to stand guard outside their son’s hospital room while he remains on a ventilator.
The family’s anger intensified after reading a social media post by Mayor Mamdani on January 26, in which he appeared to commend the officers involved.
“I’ve been briefed on an officer-involved shooting in Queens that occurred earlier today,” Mamdani wrote. “The NYPD was responding to a 911 call where they encountered an individual wielding a knife. The NYPD is assessing the situation, and we are committed to keeping New Yorkers informed. I’m grateful to the first responders who put themselves on the line each day to keep our communities safe.”
In response, the Chakrabortys condemned the Mayor’s praise of the responding officers. “Why is the Mayor applauding officers who recklessly almost killed our son in front of us?” they asked.
The family is calling on the Queens District Attorney to decline pressing charges against their son and is demanding a full explanation for the NYPD’s actions during the shooting and their subsequent treatment of the family.
The NYPD and the Mayor’s Office have not yet publicly responded to these allegations.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
