Queens man killed by NYPD after stabbing incident investigated by attorney general

March 13, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

FILE - In this Aug. 18, 2020, file photo, a neighbor watches New York City Police Department officers work a crime scene where several young men were shot and wounded at the Ravenswood Houses in the Queens borough of New York. Heralded as the safest big city in America in recent years, New York City is closing out its bloodiest year in nearly a decade, grappling with a surge in homicides and a pandemic authorities say has helped fuel violence. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

Photo: John Minchillo/AP

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The Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has initiated an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Djamshed Nematov in Queens following an interaction with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) on March 8, 2024, where Nematov was ultimately killed by officers.

Nematov’s death occurred after police responded to a distress call in a Queens apartment, where Nematov was reportedly involved in a violent altercation.

According to newspaper reports, the tragic event took place during a gathering to celebrate International Women’s Day, a date of significant cultural importance in the Nematov family’s native Uzbekistan and across post-Soviet states. The celebration turned into a night of horror when Djamshed Nematov, allegedly suffering from severe mental and physical health issues, stabbed his wife, Amira Nematov, in the midst of their friends and family.

Police, responding to a 911 call, encountered Nematov holding a knife. Despite efforts to subdue him non-lethally, officers claimed that they were forced to shoot when he advanced towards them with the weapon.

The OSI, tasked with assessing incidents where law enforcement actions may have resulted in civilian deaths, is conducting a comprehensive investigation into the encounter. This follows New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, which mandates a thorough review regardless of the officer’s duty status or the decedent’s armed state at the time of the incident.

Family members describe Djamshed Nematov as having battled with mental health issues leading up to the incident, including hallucinations and severe depression, compounded by physical pain from a hernia. Despite his condition, Nematov, a home health aide, reportedly resisted seeking medical treatment.

Amira Nematov, currently hospitalized and unaware of her husband’s death, faces a long recovery from her injuries. The couple, parents to four children, were described in various reports as having had a “beautiful marriage.” Neighbors and family members recount a peaceful relationship that showed no signs of trouble until recently.