New York City police shot and killed a man suspected of kidnapping a small child Saturday night following a failed traffic stop on the Belt Parkway.
Officers attempted to pull over a white cargo van with New Jersey license plates on the eastbound Belt Parkway near Exit 8. The driver, who has not been publicly identified, did not stop, according to the New York Post.
The incident escalated after officers responded to a 911 call reporting a possible abduction of a small child screaming in the back of the vehicle. The caller also flagged down nearby officers. The driver then rammed into police and civilian vehicles in an attempt to escape. Police broke the van's windows, tased the man, and then discharged their firearms.
He was transported to NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn, where he was pronounced dead around 8 p.m. Sources cited by the New York Post indicated that no child was found in the van.
The 911 call was placed at 7:19 p.m. in front of Seaside Park in the 60th Precinct, which covers Coney Island. The driver reportedly attempted to evade police by driving against traffic.
Video from the scene showed a significant law enforcement presence, with crime tape erected and at least one NYPD van visibly damaged. Police advised the public to avoid the area near the eastbound Belt Parkway and Coney Island Avenue due to road closures and delays.
No officers were reported injured during the incident, according to the NYPD. This marks at least the tenth fatal officer-involved shooting in New York City in 2026.