Yonkers Det. Brian Menton awake after being shot during undercover gun operation, 2 suspects face federal weapons charges
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YONKERS, N.Y. -- Detective Brian Menton, who was shot in the line of duty in Yonkers on Wednesday, was awake and interacting with others Thursday after surgery for extensive internal injuries.
Meanwhile, the police commissioner used surveillance video to give the officers' version of the events that ended with Menton in the hospital and a suspect dead, CBS2's Tony Aiello reported.
"We have the best community in the world in Yonkers, and it's important for us to share this with them so there is no lingering doubt," Yonkers Police Commissioner John Mueller said.
Mueller explained the decision to release surveillance video to illustrate the police version of the fatal shooting inside the 115 Family Deli on Elm Street on Wednesday.
Sources told CBS2 officers were conducting a local and federal law enforcement surveillance operation aimed at getting guns off the street.
According to police, 28-year-old Bryant Jackson, who was wearing a white hoodie, held a Glock 19 that was attached to a chain.
"He's showing the individual in the black hood the gun and then he calls over the individual in the gray hood to show it to them," Mueller said.
Twenty seconds later, task force officers, including Det. Menton, who was wearing a bright blue pullover, enter. None had guns drawn.
As Jackson tried to leave, Menton stopped him. Jackson appeared to fire once and Menton fell. An unnamed FBI agent immediately drew his weapon and fired, killing Jackson.
"Heroic. A split-second moment, and believe me, nobody wants to be involved in these situations," Mueller said.
Deli clerk Abrahim Mojeb said he dove for safety as gunfire erupted.
"There was a lot of people, so I see nothing. I heard the bullet, so I jumped there to stay safe," Mojeb said.
Dramatic video showed police searching the deli in the immediate aftermath.
"This is the Yonkers Police. If there's anybody in the basement, come out with your hands up now!" an officer shouted.
Police said a total of four illegal handguns were recovered, and two of the men with Jackson at the scene were busted on gun charges in Yonkers last year.
Jackson's criminal record includes felony robbery in 2014 and misdemeanor assault in 2017, CBS2 learned.
Late Thursday afternoon, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced federal charges against two men for allegedly traveling with Jackson from Georgia to sell illegal firearms in New York.
Bryce Martin, 23, of Hampton, Georgia and Xavier Simms, 22, of Covington, Georgia are each charged with one count of conspiring to traffic firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of fives years imprisonment.
Det. Menton, in 2020, was honored for helping take down a man with a gun at busy Getty Square.
"He's a dear friend, but se's also the best cop I've ever worked with, by far. Just his level of dedication is just unmatched," said Yonkers PBA President Det. Keith Olson.
Menton's twin brother, also a law enforcement officer, was at the scene on Wednesday and helped rush him to the hospital.
Menton was shot days before the end of his career. His retirement party is scheduled for April 28.
2 men charged after allegedly traveling with suspect to sell illegal firearms
Late Thursday afternoon, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced federal charges against two men for allegedly traveling with Jackson from Georgia to sell illegal firearms in New York.
Bryce Martin, 23, of Hampton, Georgia, and Xavier Simms, 22, of Covington, Georgia, are each charged with one count of conspiring to traffic firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment.
Yonkers Police news conference
Yonkers PD: 2 men to face federal charges
Dramatic video of police searching for suspects
Detective seriously injured, suspect dead after police-involved shooting in Yonkers
A Yonkers detective is in serious but stable condition and a suspect is dead following a police-involved shooting Wednesday afternoon.
Authorities say the shooting took place around 2:10 p.m. when members of the Westchester Safe Streets task force tried to apprehend three suspects in a gun investigation.
As CBS2's Cory James reports, an operation to recover illegal guns did not last long, but it did end deadly.
"Seconds, it was seconds," Yonkers Police Commissioner John Mueller said.
Police say a suspect was killed Wednesday after allegedly attacking a detective in plain clothes inside a bodega on Elm and Linden streets.
"One of the suspects attempted to push past one of our detectives, a Yonkers detective, and when our Yonkers detective pushed him back, it appears he fired one shot at our detective from his pocket, shooting him in the stomach," Mueller said.
That officer was rushed to Jacobi Hospital and underwent emergency surgery for injuries to his kidneys, colon and intestines.
Police sources have identified the injured detective as Brian Menton, a 27-year veteran of the force who was scheduled to retire in a week. Sources say his brother, who is also in law enforcement, was working the job with him.
It's an assignment Menton has done before, one nearly two years ago, when sources say he helped bring a man firing shots near Getty Square into custody.
"At the end of the day, there's just too much of this happening," Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said.
"It's very frustrating to represent an area where people often might not feel safe," Councilmember Corazon Pineda-Isaac said.
Police say the area around Elm Street has been a hot spot for a long time, which is why officers and the FBI were there Wednesday, trying to get guns off the streets.
Vanessa Jackson identified the suspect who was killed as her son, 28-year-old Briant Jackson Jr.
"I'm not saying he was right or wrong 'cause I have no idea what happened, but I know it didn't take a kill shot to kill my child. You could have wounded him," Jackson said.
It's another case of gun violence in the city, something James Nolan understands. In 2015, he lost his brother to gun violence.
"It gives me flashbacks, unfortunately it gives me flashbacks because at one point, I was on the opposite side of the tape," he said.
The police commissioner says because the officers were doing an operation with the FBI, body cameras were not on them, but they tell us surveillance cameras inside the bodega were rolling.
"We have a pretty good handle on what happened and how it happened," Mueller said.
CBS2 has been told two illegal guns were recovered, and the other two suspects who police were trying to apprehend are in custody.
As for Menton, sources say his surgery went well and they are optimistic about his recovery.
Detective, a week from retirement, suffered extensive injuries
The Yonkers detective who was shot Wednesday afternoon was one week from retirement.
He's in critical but stable condition, and is expected to survive.
Police say he was shot once by the suspect, which caused extensive bleeding and damage to his colon, intestines and kidney.
The senior detective, whose name has not yet been released, has 27 years with the Yonkers police department.
He was in plain clothes conducting a gun investigation for the Westchester County Safe Streets task force when he was shot.
More officers are expected to arrive at Jacobi Hospital to show their support as the detective undergoes and recovers from surgery.
Officials: Suspect dead, Yonkers detective in critical condition
In an afternoon news conference, officials revealed more details about the shooting.
It happened at 2:10 p.m. when members of the Westchester Safe Streets task force tried to detain three suspects in a gun investigation. Two of the suspects went into a bodega on Elm Street.
"One of the suspects attempted to push past one of our detectives, our Yonkers detective, and when our Yonkers detective pushed him back, it appears that he fired one shot at our detective from his pocket, shooting him in the stomach. An FBI agent who is part of the Safe Streets task force returned fire, and the suspect is deceased," Yonkers Police Commissioner John Mueller said.
The detective is in critical but stable condition. Officials said he lost a "tremendous amount of blood" but they believe he will be OK.
Police say the detective has been with the Yonkers police department for 27 years. They are not releasing his name.
Authorities say the entire incident was captured on video, although because they were working with the federal task force, officers were not wearing body cameras, and were in plain clothes.
The whole thing took "seconds," Mueller said.
"Very chaotic situation," he added.
"What you saw here is very, very proactive policing," said Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano. "And that's what our officers do each and every single day. They're out there proactively going after the bad guys."
Police say they recovered two guns during the investigation.
Spano said it was the third shooting this year in Yonkers.
"At the end of the day, there's just too much of this happening nationwide, and something has to be done," Spano added.
Mueller and Spano called Elm Street a "hot spot" they are focusing on.
FBI: Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force members involved in shooting
The FBI said in a tweet that members of its Westchester County Safe Streets task force were involved in the shooting.
According to the FBI, the task force "pursue violent gangs through sustained, proactive, coordinated investigations to obtain prosecutions on violations such as racketeering, drug conspiracy, and firearms violations. The Safe Streets Task Force concept expands cooperation and communication among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, increasing productivity and avoiding duplication of investigative efforts."
Sources: Officer in surgery at Jacobi Hospital
Sources tell CBS2 the officer is undergoing surgery at Jacobi Hospital. The suspect has also been hospitalized, but there was no immediate word on his condition.
Chopper 2 over the scene
Officer, suspect hospitalized after police-involved shooting
Yonkers Police say an officer and suspect have been rushed to area hospitals.
People have been advised to avoid the area.
Check back soon for more on this developing story.
