NYPD's Fatal Shooting of Knife-Wielding Woman Investigated

Yesterday's shooting by NYPD officers of a woman who was repeatedly stabbing a cop with a 12-inch knife could have been prevented if a Taser could have been used at the scene of the incident. But the dangerous conditions of the woman's Canarsie apartment that police entered into wouldn't allow it.

The landlord of the building called 911 after smelling gas coming from inside 48-year-old Ginette Denize's apartment and not getting any response from her. Police and firefighters then entered the apartment to discover all four burners on the unlit stove emitting gas, a setup that could have caused the building to blow up if a stun gun was used.

When the the cops encountered Denize in her bedroom, they saw that she had a large kitchen knife and told her to put it down. While they began backing up, one of the cops fell, prompting Denize to lunge at him and begin stabbing. One of the firefighters who witnessed the incident said, "She was screaming. The officer fell down and she really went to work on him.” The other two responding officers then fired a total of five shots, two of which struck Denize in the chest, killing her.

Police had responded to four 911 calls to the apartment in the previous eight days, including one where Denize had threatened to burn down the building. Denize's landlord was attempting to evict her since she had not paid rent in four or five months. Police said that none of the previous calls had indicated that she was emotionally disturbed or required a doctor's care. A neighbor yesterday told reporters, “She had her own problems, let’s leave it at that.”

29-year-old Paul O'Connor of the Bronx, a 3-year-NYPD vet, was the victim of the stabbing attack. The stabbings left nerve damage in his hands, a potentially career-threatening injury. Denize was also able to tear through his jacket and turtleneck, but did not break the skin (of his torso). He is being treated at Kings County Hospital. The two cops who shot Denize both tested negative for alcohol and had no previous shootings on record.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Billy Parker in News on April 9, 2009 5:00 PM

Comments [rss]

CR

"She had her own problems, let’s leave it at that."

I love when the neighbors talk like that.

YELLOWFOOT

this cop will NOT be happy to retire my father was a 25 yr veteran and when he had to retire at like 48 because of an injury on the job it was still very very depressing i feel for this poor guy he's young and no he will not receive a full pension my father did not even after serving 5 yrs past the retirement age and he was VP of his union they will make it very very difficult for him to even get 1/2 with only 3 yrs on the job

Snoopy

Unfortunately it's part of the job when you join. I bet 98% of the people on the job have never fired their gun in a line of duty event, but the union wants civilians to think it's an everyday occurrence. GET REAL! If you are going to become a cop, you must realize there are risks that come with same. It's like asking firemen to not go where there is a real danger of getting burned.

GET REAL!

JacqueMehoff

if it was a severed tendon, he's going to have to re-learn how to use his hands. a patient I know severed her tendon opening a can of cat food. lots of rehab needed.

I see this came about because of unpaid rent, how many more stories are we going to hear. and the mayor will just hire more city marshals. I'm going to keep on harping about that, you can bet on it. ACORN.

Snoopy

If indeed he suffered additional injuries as so stated he will probably retire at full pension.

jaycjay

Clearly you have no idea what you're talking about.

shiptoshore

NYPD officers are under extreme scrutiny all the time, but i think one of them getting stabbed is a good reason to use lethal force

mmlanglie

Sorry for the double post--and thanks for the clarification...!

mmlanglie

I don't quite get the "stabbings never broke his skin" part, either. Huh?

nicemarmot

Yeah I like to rip on the cops as much as anyone, but this was totally justified. You go after a cop with a knife and they're gonna shoot you. It's sad that she didn't get the help she obviously needed, but it's very hard to help someone who doesn't want to be helped. RIP and good thing the cops are okay.

Outter Burrougher

that's the Chicago way

Snoopy

Hold on for a second. This cop is going to retire on three quarters for his injuries described as "The stabbings left nerve damage from serious injuries to tendons in his hands, which is potentially career-threatening. The stabbings tore his jacket and turtleneck, but did not break his skin." He had nerve damage but the stabbings never broke his skin?

You have to love the unions.

Rocknrope

The translation is that the stabbings to the officer's hands did break the skin and cause nerve damage, but the stab wounds to the torso did not, as he was wearing a jacket and turtleneck.

And remember, this cop was on the job for 3 years. Retiring on three-quarters salary means that he'll get, what, 19 grand a year? Hardly a princely sum.

jaycjay

His hands wouldn't be covered by his jacket or turtleneck, right? Stabbings to his body didn't break the skin, but tore his clothing. His hands were cut, resulting in possible nerve damage.

If any of this can be blamed on any union, it'd be the teacher's union for their failure to effectively teach reading comprehension.

mmlanglie

I don't quite get the "stabbings never broke his skin" part, either. Huh?

colonelcasey

I think someone stabbing you with a knife is enough reason to use deadly force.

whitecastlerock

This was like Eleanor Bumpers on steroids...

JenChungsBaby

Next!

Snoopy

Thankfully there was no loss of a human life in this incident.

rcltrh

Although I do wonder that 5 cops shot but only 2 hit her at such close range. Where did the other 3 bullets go? Don't cops have to go to some sort of shooting school where they have to hit targets? Or is that only on CSI and Law & Order?

jaycjay

"that 5 cops shot but only 2 hit her"

Not five cops, two cops fired a total of five rounds. It's actually not clear from the articles, though, how many hit her. They say she died from being hit twice in the chest, but don't specify whether other rounds also hit her but those were tow that killed her, or whether they missed completely.

Outter Burrougher

i'm willing to be she was a moving target and they were being careful in trying to not shoot their colleague

rcltrh

This article reads like it was wrong for them to shoot this woman stabbing a cop? Sheesh. I normally think NYPD are pigs abusing their power harassing people just because they can. But in this case, I say bravo, Good shot, Case closed.

Rocknrope

Erm...the electricity from a taser would ignite the gas, but the gunpowder flashes emitted from the discharged firearm wouldn't?

I'm no expert on combustible substances, but is that logical?

jaycjay

It's logical because this was real life. If it had been on TV or in the movies of course gunfire would have certainly cause a huge explosion.