The NYPD said two officers, each on the force just over two years, showed great composure Saturday morning as they confronted a 30-year man who had his 45-year-old mother in a headlock, and was holding a large carving knife.

“Our officers gave numerous commands to drop the knife, however, our officer discharged his firearm, striking the subject in the head, and saved the mother’s life,” said John Chell, the NYPD’s Chief of Patrol. “Today was a complete tragedy during this holiday season. Thank God our cops got here quickly and saved this family from further harm.”

What You Need To Know

  • Police claim a man in a Bronx apartment, who was wieliding a knife and had his mother in a chokehold, was asked repeatedly to drop his weapon before being shot dead by a responding officer

  • The man’s mother and girlfriend both suffered slash wounds, according to the NYPD

  • Police said both officers had been on the force just over two years and were not injured

Officers arrived on the 13th floor of an apartment building on Creston Avenue in the Bronx around 11:15 a.m.

Chell said they first noticed the suspect’s 19-year-old girlfriend, who had visible slice wounds to her face, come screaming out of the apartment.

Soon after, the officers noticed the knife-welding man and his mother, who was bleeding.

“The subject told his family member he was going to kill them,” said Chell. “Our two young cops got here quickly, showed their composure, their training kicked in, saved mom’s life and saved this family’s life.”

The NYPD has not yet released body cam video that officials said recorded the frantic scene.

Tenant Richard Givens also lives in the building, and he was both saddened and scared to hear of the shooting.

“How do you make sense of this? Right before the holidays?” asked Givens.

Givens said the father of the man who was killed also lives in the building, but on a different floor than his son.

Givens said he was unaware the shooting had happened, when around 4 p.m., he had an encounter with the father of the man who had died.

“I was actually going to get on the elevator with the father of the son,” said Givens, “when something told me to get my mail. So I went and got my mail and somebody approached me and said exactly what had happened. I hadn’t understood why he didn’t hold the door open, but now I know he was disturbed.”

As the investigation continues, police said neither of the responding officers were hurt and the man’s mother and girlfriend were both taken to the hospital for treatment.