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Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office announced last night an investigation into a tactical NYPD officer as prosecutors move forward with charges against dozens of anti-Israel agitators who police arrested in the barricaded building Tuesday.
At a news briefing on the matter Friday morning, NYPD brass stood by their initial finding that the discharge was accidental.
The unnamed NYPD sergeant moved the gun from his dominant right hand to his left hand to try and open a locked metal door after breaking the window next to it – and “unintentionally” discharged the weapon, police said. The bullet went through the glass into the unlit room. Police recovered it on the floor.
“At no time were any police officers, members of the public or any protesters in danger,” officials said. “This was purely unintentional.”
Demonstrators barricade themselves inside Hamilton Hall, an academic building which has been occupied in past student movements, on April 30, 2024 in New York City. Police said about 30% of the people arrested inside the Columbia University building had no affiliation with the school. (Alex Kent/Getty Images)
Additionally, the NYPD typically doesn’t release bodycam on accidental discharge and leadership said they have no plan to do so on this incident.
Police arrested 282 people Tuesday night in crackdowns at Columbia University and the City College of New York. Of those, 74 faced misdemeanor or more serious charges and another 16 had outstanding warrants, prosecutors said. About half of the arrestees had no affiliation with either school.
On Tuesday, Columbia University leaders asked the NYPD to help clear out a group of anti-Israel agitators who broke into the Hamilton Hall building and barricaded themselves inside.
During the operation, the NYPD said an emergency services unit officer drew a firearm to use the attached flashlight and accidentally fired a round into a door frame. No one was hurt.
WATCH: Body camera footage shows NYPD breach Hamilton Hall at Columbia University
Video“The round did not strike any persons and did not cause any injuries,” an NYPD spokesperson said Thursday night. “At no time was anyone except police personnel, in sight or sound of this accidental discharge. An immediate investigation was conducted, and the NYPD determined this incident to be an accidental discharge.”
Police said they sent bodycam of the incident to the DA’s office.
New York Police Department officers detain dozens of anti-Israel agitators at Columbia University after they barricaded themselves at the Hamilton Hall building in New York, United States on April 30, 2024. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Also on Thursday night, Bragg’s office told The City, a local news site, that its police accountability unit was reviewing the incident.
Police arrested more than 100 people at Columbia during the raid, including 46 inside Hamilton Hall who were arraigned on criminal trespassing and related charges.
NYPD officer approached Hamilton Hall at Columbia University Tuesday night to breach the building, which had been overtaken by anti-Israel protesters. (NYPD)
Bodycam video shows officers had to move heavy furniture that had been ziptied to gather, cut steel chains and take other measures to make their way through the barricade before they encountered the occupiers holed up in a classroom.
All of the suspects were released on their own recognizance – without having to post bond – under New York’s bail reform law, authorities said.
Fox News’ CB Cotton contributed to this report.
