Mamdani urges prosecutors to drop charges against knife-wielding mentally ill man shot by cops

Mayor Zohran Mamdani called on the Queens district attorney not to prosecute the knife-wielding mentally ill man shot by cops inside his home — just hours before he was arraigned from a hospital bed Friday afternoon.Mamdani, who had questioned the protocol in the Jan.26 police-involved shooting, told reporters Jabez Chakraborty, 22, should not face charges after he allegedly lunged at cops while holding a knife.“Jabez should not be prosecuted by the Queen’s district attorney,” Hizzoner said when asked about the case against the schizophrenic man during an unrelated press conference about expanding bus and bike lanes.“His handcuffs should be removed, and he should be receiving the care that moments like this,” Mamdani said.The mayor noted that he had not spoken directly with Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz about the case, but said, “No family should have to endure this kind of thing.”Prosecutors had been set to arraign Chakraborty on charges of attempted assault and criminal possession — but his first appearance in Queens Supreme Court hit a snag after his lawyers objected to him appearing virtually.Judge Jessica Earle-Gargan, after hearing arguments from both sides, ultimately allowed the virtual arraignment to proceed, and Chakraborty cried as he was arraigned from his hospital bed.“This is an extremely difficult case,” she said.Chakraborty was hospitalized at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in critical condition after being shot four times at his family’s home on Parsons Boulevard near 85th Avenue in Briarwood.“As alleged, the defendant tried to attack a police officer while holding a large knife, ignored repeated commands to drop the weapon, and then forcibly pushed through a door the officer was using as a shield to protect himself.

The officer then discharged his weapon and hit Jabez Chakraborty four times,” Katz, the DA, said in a statement.“As prosecutors, we are duty-bound to follow the facts, evidence and circumstances ...