NYPD
© William C. LopezPolice at the scene of the shooting.
An NYPD sergeant fatally shot a troubled 66-year-old woman who charged at him with a baseball bat in her Bronx apartment Tuesday evening, leading the officer to be placed on modified duty — and ­local officials calling for a full investigation.

Cops responded to the Deborah Danner's building on Pugsley Avenue in Castle Hill at 6 p.m. after neighbors reported a resident screaming, according to police.

When they entered the apartment, the disturbed woman threatened them with scissors.

They convinced her to drop it, but then she grabbed a wooden bat and charged at a Sgt. Hugh Barry.

He fired two shots and struck Danner in the torso. She was rushed to ­Jacobi Medical Center, where she died.

Barry, who has eight years on the force and no disciplinary record, was also armed with a Taser at the time. He was immediately placed on modified duty pending an investigation.

"The reason [the Taser] was not deployed will be part of the investigation and review," NYPD Assistant Chief Larry Nikunen said.

Controversy over the shooting began soon after news of the woman's death broke, and Mayor de Blasio tweeted that "we're determined to get to the bottom of what happened."

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. called the incident "totally unacceptable."


"Tonight's incident is all too reminiscent of the case of Eleanor Bumpurs and a much darker time for this city and this nation in terms of police-community relations," Diaz said, referring to the 1984 fatal shooting of Bumpurs, 69, by cops in her Bronx apartment.

Diaz's comments were echoed by Public Advocate Letitia James, who called for a "swift" investigation. Also, protesters from Black Lives Matter said they would demonstrate in the neighborhood this week.

"When you hear about these situations, it begs the question: How much training do these police officers have with dealing with those who are mentally ill?" said BLM representative Hawk Newsome.
Deborah Danner
© TwitterDeborah Danner
Ed Mullins, president of the Sergeants Benevolent Assocation, however, was furious that the sergeant was placed on modified duty.

"This is a totally legal shooting," he said. "Chief [of Patrol Terence] Monahan is politically pandering, sending the wrong message to officers by throwing this sergeant . . . under the bus."

Mullins said the department was second-guessing Barry for not using a Taser and that the woman was a threat.

Neighbors said Danner had frequently caused trouble and frightened others.

"She's always screaming every day. Cursing and screaming," said neighbor Angela Martinez. "She's just very angry when she's not on her medication."