A dramatic confrontation on the Upper East Side Thursday evening ended with the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Elijah Brown by New York City police, after he allegedly threatened to carry out a violent attack at Mount Sinai Medical Center. The incident, which unfolded across several blocks, put bystanders, hospital staff, and officers at immediate risk.
The events began around 7 p.m. when Brown, who had no prior criminal record, allegedly pointed a firearm at another man inside an elevator in a residential building near Madison Avenue and East 106th Street. This unprovoked act marked the beginning of a chaotic series of events that escalated rapidly.
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Minutes later, Brown entered a nearby deli at Madison Avenue and East 107th Street, where he went behind the counter, pulled out his gun, and demanded the employee call 911. While holding the weapon, he threatened to “shoot up” Mount Sinai Medical Center. After stealing the deli worker’s phone, Brown left the store and headed toward the hospital.
Surveillance footage and witness accounts show Brown briefly entered Mount Sinai but soon exited, placing his gun on the ground near a tree. He reentered the hospital shortly afterward, where he encountered an off-duty NYPD officer. During the encounter, Brown reportedly acted disorderly and claimed he had a gun, leading to a struggle when the officer attempted to escort him out of the facility. Brown managed to break free, retrieve the firearm, and continued walking down Madison Avenue.
As officers closed in on Brown near East 96th Street, he allegedly raised the gun toward them and fired. Witness Layla Helou, who was nearby, recalled the terrifying moment, describing the scene as a sudden confrontation that escalated to gunfire. “I just saw a gun come out, and then, like, shooting,” she said, as bystanders scrambled for safety.
In response to the threat, officers returned fire, striking Brown. He was quickly transported to Mount Sinai Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
NYPD Chief of Patrol Philip Rivera praised the swift actions of the officers involved, acknowledging the extreme danger posed by Brown’s behavior. “Every day our officers put on their uniforms and encounter dangerous situations across this city,” Rivera said. “But it’s another kind of danger when someone goes into a deli and a hospital with a gun and opens fire directly at the NYPD.”
The investigation into the events surrounding Brown’s actions continues, with authorities piecing together the details of the chaotic chain of events that led to the deadly confrontation.