33-year-old Taiquell Woodson was shot and killed by Suffolk County Police officers after he reportedly tried to stab an officer to death Saturday morning.
The police had responded to a 911 call made for a domestic dispute at 1138 Udall Road in Bay Shore at 9:10 a.m. The violence reportedly began after officers opened the screen door to investigate the dispute.
“Taiquell Woodson, the 911 caller’s husband, began charging at the officer with a large knife,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Robert Waring stated at a news conference. “The officer retreated, and fell into the snow of the front yard. Woodson jumped on top of him with the knife and started stabbing the officer, clearly intending to kill him.”
Woodson reportedly stabbed the officer multiple times, wounding his hands, both forearms, and face. The officer’s bullet proof vest protected him as Woodson reportedly tried to stab him in the chest as well.
One officer deployed his taser, which was unsuccessful. The third officer fired a service weapon, striking and killing Woodson.
CPR was initiated on Woodson at the scene by responding officers and first responders, while a tourniquet was applied to the officer’s arm by fellow officers. Woodson was transported by Brentwood Legion Ambulance to South Shore University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The stabbed officer was transported by a police vehicle to Good Samaritan Hospital, then airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital. The other two officers were also transported for observation to Stony Brook University Hospital.
Chief of Trauma and Surgery at Stony Brook Hospital and Medical Director Dr. James Vosswinkel spoke out about the shooting and the officer’s condition during the news conference Saturday afternoon.
“As a member of society, it really makes me sick to my stomach that in the past 14 months, this is the third incident and fourth officer that I have had to take care of that was almost killed,” Dr. Vosswinkel solemnly shared. “We do have concerns that there may be nerve damage to his dominant hand, but we are very fortunate that he is alive, and overall these wounds are not life-threatening, as we have seen in the past. We are hopeful for a full recovery.”
Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association (PBA) President Lou Civello voiced his gratitude for the responding officers that acted quickly to save the life of their fellow officer, following the stabbing from Woodson, who he referred to as a “violent career felon.”
Commissioner Warning shared that Woodson was arrested for a robbery last year in Riverhead. He also expressed his thanks to the responding officers.
“I want to be clear, this was a justified shooting. Without the decisive actions of these officers, one of our officers would have been killed today,” explained Commissioner Waring. “I am grateful that my officers will be going home to their families.”
The incident is an ongoing investigation.
