On Wednesday we reported at approximately 2:10 PM today, members of the FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, a multi-agency task force including members of the Yonkers Police Department, were conducting a law enforcement investigation in the area of Elm Street and Linden Street related to illegal firearms. Task force members attempted to stop several individuals who entered the bodega deli at 115 Elm Street. A Yonkers Police Detective Brian Menton assigned to the task force attempted to detain one of the suspects inside the store when that suspect fired a concealed handgun at the Detective, striking him in the abdomen; a Federal Agent returned fired, striking the suspect. Both Detective and suspect were removed to local area hospitals. The Detective underwent emergency surgery for life-threatening internal injuries; he is currently listed in serious but stable condition. The 28-year-old suspect was declared deceased at the hospital. Two illegal firearms were recovered at scene. Surveillance video captured the shooting event.
Today, Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16) who lives in Yonkers issued a statement to Black Westchester following the shooting of a Yonkers police officer.
“I am sending love, prayers and well wishes to the friends and family of officer Brian Menton, who was shot yesterday in the line of duty while fighting to keep guns off our streets,” said Congressman Jamaal Bowman shared with Black Westchester. “I pray for officer Menton’s full recovery.
We must take absolutely every measure to get guns off of our streets immediately. Gun violence continues to terrorize our communities in Yonkers, terrorize the entirety of New York’s 16th Congressional District, and terrorize the entire country. Gun trafficking and the record number of guns made available on our streets have created an epidemic, causing more members of law enforcement and civilians to get hurt or killed on a consistent basis. We must do more at the federal level to pass common sense gun reform like H.R. 8 in the Senate. We also must do more at every level of government while including community violence interrupters to properly and effectively address the social determinants of violence. This is a complex problem that requires a multifaceted approach. Those who commit violence must be held accountable, and we have to do more to stop the violence from happening in the first place. Lives depend on us.
President Biden took a great first step in issuing an executive order to ban ghost guns, but we can do more. Guns are hurting and killing children, civilians and officers – it’s on all of us to put an end to gun violence once and for all. We are in this together.”
Yonkers Police inform Black Westchester the area is presently cordoned-off pending a joint Yonkers Police / FBI investigation. Additional information may be released as it becomes available. Stay tuned for more on this developing story
AJ Woodson
AJ Woodson is the Editor-In-Chief of Black Westchester and Co-Owner of Urban Soul Media Group, the parent company, Host & Producer of the People Before Politics Radio Show. AJ is a Father, Brother, An Author, Journalism Fellow (Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism), Hip-Hop Artist - one third of the legendary underground rap group JVC FORCE known for the single Strong Island, Radio Personality, Hip-Hop Historian, Documentarian, Activist, Criminal Justice Advocate and Freelance Journalist whose byline has appeared in several print publications and online sites including The Source, Vibe, the Village Voice, Upscale, Sonicnet.com, Launch.com, Rolling Out Newspaper, Daily Challenge Newspaper, Spiritual Minded Magazine, Word Up! Magazine, On The Go Magazine and several others.
