New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani misspelled the name of an NYPD detective shot in the back on Sunday, July 5, 2026, on his social media account, making the error despite having visited the officer in the hospital.
Mamdani incorrectly spelled Detective Robert Karroll’s last name as “Carroll” three times in a post on X. The post stated, “Early this morning in Crown Heights, Detective Robert Carroll was shot in the line of duty. I visited Detective Carroll at the hospital today, and I’m grateful his bulletproof vest protected him from more serious injury. I’m keeping him and his loved ones in my thoughts as he recovers.” He later added, “I’m thankful to Detective Carroll and every member of the NYPD working to keep New Yorkers safe through a busy holiday weekend.”
The misspelling occurred despite Mamdani having met with Detective Karroll in person.
Police Hiring Freeze
The incident follows a decision weeks earlier by Mamdani to cancel plans to hire nearly 600 new police officers. This move came as a surprise to the department and city lawmakers. Mamdani had previously announced the hiring of 580 new officers, a decision that drew criticism from some allies as it broke a campaign promise to maintain the NYPD’s headcount at 35,000 officers.
The rescinded hires come at a time when the NYPD faces a demanding workload, including managing security for World Cup tourism, a high-profile wedding, and the Independence Day holiday. Officers are reportedly working 12-hour shifts.
Detective Shot in Brooklyn
Detective Karroll, a married father of three, was reportedly shot in the upper back early Sunday morning by an 18-year-old suspect. The incident occurred while Karroll and other officers were in an unmarked police car in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Police stated that Karroll was wearing his ballistic vest, which prevented more serious injuries. The suspect fled the scene on foot but was apprehended several blocks away following a pursuit.