Off-Duty Cop Kills Man At Brooklyn Club

Yesterday morning, an off-duty police officer killed another clubgoer who was threatening another off-duty cop. At Brooklyn's The Elite Ark, which was having a Notorious B.I.G. tribute, a shoving match started that caused a commotion. Twenty-one year-old Kristen McKenzie allegedly fired a gun at an unarmed off-duty detective's head, but missed. The detective then tackled McKenzie, trying to get the gun, and the gun went off, injuring the detective. The NY Times reports that he "ended up on the ground with Mr. McKenzie straddling him."

The other officer, Andre Clark, then shot at McKenzie eight times, hitting him four times. The NYPD says that the shooting seemed to appear "to be within department guidelines," since Clark identified himself as a police officer and since McKenzie refused to drop his weapon. McKenzie was pronounced dead at Brookdale Hospital. His 9mm semiautomatic was recovered at the scene.

McKenzie's sister Andrea Pollidore says that the police "could have defused this situation," even though he had been holding a gun to the detective's head. Pollidore and City Councilman Charles Barron, who has asked for Police Commissioner Kelly's resignation in the wake of the Sean Bell Shooting, questioned whether the off-duty cops were drinking. And the Elite Ark is wondering how guns got into the club - cops say their security is usually pretty good, as their patrons are checked for weapons.

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By Jen Chung in News on March 11, 2007 11:32 AM

Comments [rss]

matukonyc

Ever wonder why there always seems to be an off-duty police officer around when the trouble breaks out?

Well, although NYPD regulations prohibit police officers from moonlighting as security in clubs and bars, it's a fairly common practice.

barron' a grudge

Wow. Even for a politician, this Barron guy may have just set a new record for stupidity:

<ul>

Councilman Charles Barron denounced the shooting yesterday and questioned why an off-duty officer had carried a gun into a place where alcohol was served.</ul>

"If you’re going to socialize with us in our clubs, what are you doing with a gun?" he said.

Don't you love how he directs that question at the police officer who returned fire AFTER BEING SHOT AT, and not at the gun-toting thug who tried to shoot him in the first place?

a

Headline:

21 year-old wannabe thug brings gun to club, thug gets shot dead for attempted murder, Justice served, end of story.

Jerky

This is definitely the best quote ever:" the police "could have defused this situation," even though he had been holding a gun to the detective's head."

At that point, I don't think the police are in too much of a mood to "defuse the situation". One less loser on the streets....HA.

TheNubianRight

Would Charles Barron be there if there was a civilian was killed by this a$%hole? I’m sick of politicians’ rubble rousing and grandstanding when police are involved in shootings with armed or unarmed civilians. During the summer months in NY the headlines scream of bystanders being caught in the crossfire because some animals see it fit to air beefs in playgrounds and parks filled with children on Sunday afternoons. These events are far too common in communities of colour. But where are Charles Barron and the Rev when the finger on the trigger is that of sub-human scum and the victim is an innocent child caught in the crossfire?

PS The deceased could have diffused the situation simply by keeping his gun tucked. What did you go to the club for to pick up chicks, or start some s*#t?

pants

It's funny how these cops always seem to walk into trouble. Whenever a cop shoots someone, that person always provokes it, although in my 30-plus years of life I've rarely seen anyone provoke that kind of response in anyone.

Good thing we can always believe the fuzz: they never lie!

how do it no

How did a cop get a gun into the club?

UM, because they were cops.

When was the last time you saw a cop get turned away at the door because he had a gun?????

they can make easy or make it hard to do business, so many people just let them in.

However, this was the first time I've heard the victim's gun "went off". Can it be that the bad guys have the same guns as the NYPD. You know, those NYPD guns that also "went off".

The Edge

50% hit-rate is pretty good for a cop, especially when off-duty and under duress like that.

It's nowhere near as easy as it seems on TV.

I'm sure at some point the family will be crying about how come the cop didn't just "shoot the gun" from his hand. Yeah, okay.

Most people can barely keep three shots in a 2" circle at 15 yards.

Doctorted

"McKenzie's sister Andrea Pollidore says that the police "could have defused this situation," even though he had been holding a gun to the detective's head. Pollidore and City Councilman Charles Barron, who has asked for Police Commissioner Kelly's resignation in the wake of the Sean Bell Shooting, quesitoned whether the off-duty cops were drinking. "

Same old BS.

Doctorted

Shouldve given him 50 more for posterity.

anonymass

A man named Kristen?

tien

man, nypd officers miss a lot.

Jen Chung

Apparently NYPD guidelines allow off-duty cops to shoot if they are in life-threatening situations.

It sounds like there was bad stuff on all sides- guns, drinking, heat of the moment decisions.