NYPD Shoots Man in Times Square, Article Critique Example

In the YouTube video, a man with dreadlocks, apparently high on some kind of drug, possibly methamphetamine, was shot by the New York Police after he was warned numerous times to drop a butcher knife that he was using to threaten passerbys on the sidewalks and streets of Times Square. Around 3 PM on August 11, this crazed man, later identified as Darrius Kennedy, was fatally shot to death after having been pepper sprayed by the police several times.

As to the outcome of this encounter with the NYPD who have been ordered by the mayor to keep the peace in the streets of New York City, it appears that the officers were justified by shooting Mr. Kennedy, due to the fact that he openly threatened them with the butcher knife by lunging at them. The police clearly gave him many opportunities to drop the knife, but due to being out of his mind and most probably high on a mind-altering drug, he refused to follow the orders of the police which resulted in his death.

This incident is not out of the ordinary, especially in a city the size of New York where the police encounter people like Mr. Kennedy on a daily basis. Overall, the police have been told that if they are confronted by a suspect who threatens them, they do have the right to protect themselves and the people of New York. Although some may consider  the shooting of this man as a prime example of the use of excessive force by the police, he was warned numerous times to cease and desist. Therefore, despite being possibly high on drugs, Mr. Kennedy sealed his own fate by refusing to obey the orders of the NYPD who should not be held accountable for using deadly force.