Rochester, N.Y. - Rochester's Police Chief says the officers involved in Tuesday's shooting on State Street tried to calm the situation before firing on a city resident.
Chief James Sheppard said police were assisting the city Court Marshal in serving an eviction notice to Timothy Powell, a tenant at the Cooper Union apartments.
Powell apparently became agitated and began arguing with officers. Powell, who was armed with a knife, engaged in a fight with one officer. The officer was uninjured and able to call for help.
It is alleged that Powell sprayed five officers with bleach.
"He does approach them with the liquid container as well as the knife," said Sheppard.
Officers fired a Taser at Powell, but missed and later fired guns at him; hitting him once in the hip.
"Based on his approach and based on the failure of the Taser (to complete its mission), they did deploy simultaneously deadly physical force," said Sheppard.
Officers Antonio Gonzalez and James Ott each fired one shot at Powell.
Powell is in satisfactory condition at Strong Memorial Hospital.
The Volunteers of America is the nonprofit agency that operates the Cooper Union facility.
"We are extremely grateful to the Court Marshals and the Rochester Police Officers who took control of what was apparently a deteriorating situation and ensured the safety of everyone else in the building," said JoAnne Ryan, President and CEO of Volunteers of America.
The VOA would not comment on the reasons for eviction or history of Timothy Powell.
