NYPD Officer Allegedly Dismissed Murder Suspect Who Attempted to Surrender

A man accused of a heinous murder, Tiliek Shamel Thompson, allegedly attempted to surrender to police at an NYPD stationhouse but was dismissed, according to his lawyer. Thompson is accused of fatally beating Lovay Williams in front of her 7-year-old daughter.

Thompson and his two sisters reportedly went to the 33rd Precinct stationhouse in Washington Heights around 5 a.m. on September 11. According to Thompson's lawyer, Neville Onielle Dexter Mitchell, the sisters informed the desk officer that they were there regarding the death of Williams and that Thompson was wanted by police. The officer, who stated he had just returned from vacation, allegedly told them, "Nobody's here," and sent them away.

An NYPD spokeswoman, however, reviewed audio and video of the encounter and disputed the lawyer's account. The spokeswoman stated that the family did not explicitly tell the officer they were looking for Thompson. The officer, she said, misunderstood and believed the group were members of the murder victim's family. He mentioned his vacation to explain his absence during the time of Williams' murder. The officer provided one of the sisters with a phone number for squad detectives and allowed the group to leave.

Thompson, who police sources identified as a person of interest in the killing, later surrendered to police on Saturday night and has since been charged with murder.

Williams, 27, was found dead in her apartment on September 6 with apparent trauma to her face and neck. Her 7-year-old daughter was found unharmed in the apartment. Relatives identified Thompson as Williams' boyfriend.

Former and current police officers expressed dismay at the alleged incident. One senior police officer, speaking anonymously, stated that if a homicide suspect attempts to surrender, the individual should be detained and investigated, even if detectives are not immediately available. The officer suggested that the desk officer should have contacted detectives.

Former NYPD Detective Michael Alcazar echoed this sentiment, stating that the suspect should have been detained until detectives arrived. He noted that even if detectives were not present, the nightwatch or a supervisor should have been notified. Alcazar speculated that the officer involved, and potentially his supervisor and commanding officer, could face disciplinary action.

The NYPD has recently faced challenges in recruitment, leading to adjustments in hiring standards, including a reduction in required college credits from 60 to 24. In 2025, the department hired 4,056 new officers, reportedly the largest number in its history.