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Crime & Safety

Armed Man Fatally Shot by White Plains Cop in S. Lexington Avenue Apartment

The police officer remains at White Plains Hospital with chest pains.

A White Plains police officer responding to a medical alert distress call fatally shot a man holding a knife this morning, said Public Safety Commissioner David Chong at a press conference earlier today.

Police responding to the call before 6 a.m. Nov. 19 attempted to enter the apartment of Kenneth Chamberlain, 68, at 135 S. Lexington Ave.

“From what we know right now, all department guidelines were followed. It appears every avenue was used before [an officer] fired the service weapon,” said Chong. 

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Chamberlain was known by police, but they would not say in what capacity or address questions about his mental state. Police are currently running Chamberlain's background.

The officer remains at White Plains Hospital with chest pains, according to Chong. 

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According to news reports, Chong said that the officers sent to the scene heard voices but Chamberlain refused to open the apartment door. As police tried to pry the door open, Chamberlain shoved a hatchet through an opening between the door and the hallway. An officer was able to remove the hatchet from his hand. When police entered the apartment, continuing to negotiate, they saw Chamberlain holding a butcher knife.

According to LoHud.com, Chong said Chamberlain came at police who tried to subdue him with a tazer and a bean-bag gun before an officer fired two rounds at him. Chong said as police tried to give CPR to Chamberlain, he continued to slash with the knife and then tried to cut his own throat. Chamberlin was taken to the White Plains Hospital emergency room and died during surgery two hours after the initial distress call. 

Police did not release the name of the officer who shot Chamberlain, but Chong described him as an eight-year veteran who never before fired his gun in the line of duty, according to thedailywhiteplains.com.

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