The wounded detective was treated for a leg injury after police said a barricaded man fired at officers.
NEW YORK — A veteran NYPD detective was wounded Friday after a barricaded man opened fire during a standoff in a Bedford-Stuyvesant building, police said, ending in the man’s death after officers shot back.
The confrontation began before sunrise on Kosciusko Street, where police responded to reports of multiple shots fired inside a two-story brownstone. Officials said the call grew from a dispute involving 48-year-old Lamin Simmons and elderly neighbors in the building.
Detective Matthew Gale, a 15-year member of the NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit, was among the officers sent into the building. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Gale and other officers faced an uncertain scene and moved to protect people still inside. “They enter situations that are uncertain, volatile, and often life-threatening,” Tisch said.
Police said Simmons’ wife and son escaped the home during the standoff. An elderly couple upstairs remained inside under police direction as officers worked to contain Simmons. Negotiators and specialized officers were called in, and police used tactical equipment as the standoff stretched for about two hours.
Officials said Simmons fired at police and struck Gale in the leg. Four officers then fired back, killing Simmons. Gale was hospitalized with a tibial fracture, police said. Investigators recovered two firearms, including a Beretta fitted with an extended magazine.
Authorities said Simmons had no prior record with the NYPD. Relatives told police he had struggled with mental health issues, but officials had not said by Monday what caused the dispute or why shots were fired before officers arrived.
The shooting remains under review, including the officers’ use of force, the origin of the first gunfire and the timeline of commands given inside the building. Police said investigators are reviewing evidence from the scene and speaking with residents and responding officers.
Author note: Last updated June 22, 2026.