NYPD defends shooting of knife-wielding man as family cries foul

A mentally-disturbed man left seriously hurt and hospitalized after being shot by cops in Queens had been following officers while waving a knife as they tried to retreat, the NYPD said in a statement to The Post Saturday.

The description of the Monday incident came a day after the family of Jabez Chakraborty criticized officers for their handling of the incident.

Chakraborty’s family called 911 because the 22-year-old was “throwing glass against the wall” in the family’s Briarwood home — but they said they didn’t expect police to also show up.

“We called 911 for an ambulance to provide medical attention for our son, who was in emotional distress,” the family said in a statement posted online by Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM), a South Asian immigrant advocacy group.

“We did not call the police.”

The family was told during the 911 call that both EMS and police would be sent to the home, the NYPD said.

When cops arrived and asked if they could enter the apartment, “the family gave them permission,” the department noted.

Police officers only drew their guns when Chakraborty grabbed a large kitchen knife and began threatening them with it, cops said.

As officers attempted to deescalate the situation and retreat, Chakraborty allegedly followed them with the knife in hand, ignoring demands to drop the weapon, according to police.

“Officers even shut a door between them,” an NYPD spokeswoman said. “The subject overwhelmed them and opened the door.”

The family also alleges that cops confiscated their phones and demanded to know what country they were from. 

“While our son lay shot on the floor, the NYPD acted like ICE, interrogating us on what country we were from,” the family claimed.

The NYPD said Queens District Attorney’s representatives arrived after the son was taken to the hospital and told police to take cell phones. 

“Multiple family members signed voluntary consent forms to turn over their phones,” the spokeswoman said, adding that cops reviewed hours of body-worn camera footage and didn’t see any officers asking immigration questions. 

The family also accused the NYPD of not providing medical attention, but the NYPD said cops “performed life saving measures” and “were focused on saving his life” even applying a tourniquet.

The family criticized a statement Mayor Mamdani released after the shooting in which he said he was “grateful to the first responders.”

“Why is the Mayor applauding officers who recklessly almost killed our son in front of us?” the family asked in its statement.

Chakraborty has been indicted by the Queens DA for attempted murder and is in the hospital on a ventilator being guarded by a police officer.

His family is demanding that the DA decline to prosecute.