February 4, 2026 QUEENS, NY — It’s the call every parent of a child struggling with mental illness dreads making. On January 26, the Chakraborty family reached out for an ambulance to help their 22-year-old son, Jabez, who was in the throes of a schizophrenic episode.

Instead of a stretcher and a sedative, they got a standoff and a shooting.

Today, Mayor Zohran Mamdani—who initially faced fierce backlash for praising the "first responders" involved—has performed a total 180-degree pivot after viewing the body-worn camera footage. His new verdict? Jabez needs a doctor, not a prosecutor.

A Kitchen, a Knife, and a Glass Door

The NYPD’s account of that Monday morning on Parsons Boulevard paints a frantic scene. According to Assistant Chief Chris McIntosh, Jabez was smashing glass when officers arrived. They claim he grabbed a kitchen knife and advanced.

The standoff escalated in seconds. Officers reportedly tried to use a glass door to create distance, but police say Jabez burst through it, lunging at them. That’s when the shots were fired.

The Family’s Nightmare: “Abuse Beyond the Bullets”

While the NYPD focuses on the moments before the trigger was pulled, the South Asian immigrant advocacy group DRUM (Desis Rising Up & Moving) is shining a light on what happened while Jabez lay bleeding on the floor.

The family alleges a harrowing series of events following the shooting:

• Seized Tech: Officers allegedly demanded their phones and passwords.

• Status Interrogations: Family members claim they were questioned about their immigration status while their son was in critical condition.

• Isolated and Detained: The family says they were prevented from going to the hospital and instead taken to the precinct for questioning.

The Mayor’s Mea Culpa

Mayor Mamdani is currently walking a political tightrope. After his initial social media post "applauded" the officers, the Chakraborty family accused him of being out of touch with the reality of the violence their son endured.

"What Jabez needs is mental health treatment, not criminal prosecution," Mamdani stated Tuesday, shifting his support toward a proposed Department of Community Safety. This new agency would ensure that clinicians—not cops—are the first faces a person sees during a psychiatric emergency.

The System on Trial

The shooting of Jabez Chakraborty has become the "stark example" of a city response system that Mamdani now admits is "not setting our city up for success."

As the public prepares for the release of the body-worn camera footage this Tuesday, the question remains: Why were officers dispatched to a medical call in the first place? Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz now faces immense pressure from the community to drop any potential charges against the young man fighting for his life in a hospital bed.

In a city where "mental health crisis" is too often met with "ballistic response," Jabez Chakraborty’s story is a chilling reminder that sometimes, the help you call for is the very thing you should fear the most.