Albany Police: suspect shot, officer stabbed in Franklin St. incident

Albany Police say an officer was stabbed and a man was shot by police on Franklin Street around noon Monday. Chief Eric Hawkins says officers were called to the 100 block of Franklin Street for a domestic disturbance, and encountered a male suspect with an outstanding warrant. He says while police attempted to take the 54-year-old into custody, he pulled a knife from his pocket and stabbed an officer in the bicep. Another officer then shot the man one time in his torso.

“We had an officer who was viciously attacked,” Hawkins told reporters Monday night. “The person was continuing that attack. This person obviously had intent to do major bodily damage or to kill that officer. And that officer’s partner used lethal force in order to stop a lethal force threat. Once that threat subsided, that officer did not use any other lethal force.”

Hawkins says officers administered first aid to the suspect. The officer who was stabbed and the suspect are both in stable condition. No one involved was identified.

"What I witnessed was an amazing display of professionalism, courage and empathy by Albany Police officers," Hawkins said.

Hawkins says charges are expected to be filed against the suspect, who the chief said had over 15 felony arrests and has been convicted on several felonies and misdemeanors.

Hawkins says the New York State Attorney General’s Office, the Albany County District Attorney, the Albany Police Department and the Albany Community Police Review Board are investigating the incident.

Hawkins says he expects to publicly release body camera footage of the incident in the next few days.

Reacting to the shooting in a statement released Monday night, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan promised transparency during the investigation.

"Unfortunately, as we have been reminded over the last several months, any 911 call can put members of the Albany Police Department in life-or-death situations," the Democrat said in a statement. "The officers involved in this morning’s call showed tremendous restraint and resolve, even as one of their own suffered a serious and potentially life-threatening injury. I am grateful for the men and women of our Police Department and my thoughts are with the officers involved in this traumatic encounter.”