Nassau police commissioner: Officer shot man in face

Speaking at the media briefing, Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said it was a "long night" in the New Cassel-Westbury area.

Around 11 p.m., a calls came in regarding a man acting irrationally, attempting to stab people with a knife, Ryder said. The man came running out from behind bushes in a wooded area and smashed the side of a police officer's vehicle, he added.

Ryder said the officer fired shots at the man, who then ran to the rear of the car.

“He came running at him, smashed the glass, and the knife comes into the car," Ryder said. "The officer fires from the seated position, missing him both times. The subject then runs. The driver gets out of the car and confronts the subject at the back of the car. He fired once, striking the individual in the face.”

Ryder said  the bullet went through one side of the man's face and out the other. The bullet went through one side of his cheek.

The man was taken to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, where doctors said he is recovering and will be OK, according to Ryder. Police have spoken with him.

This man is 27 years old, lives in Westbury with his parents and was previously a medical student at Columbia University, Ryder said. 

Ryder said he had an interaction with police on April 13 related to mental health. 

Two photos of the recovered knife were shown on poster boards at Tuesday's news conference. The man's mug shot was also displayed on a large poster board.