“Violent Sex Offender Kent Edwards Shot and Killed by NYPD Officers in Manhattan Standoff”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : The man who barricaded himself in a downtown Manhattan apartment and was subsequently shot by NYPD officers has been identified as Kent Edwards, a 43-year-old violent sex offender. The tense standoff between Edwards and the police began on Thursday, lasting for at least two hours. The incident unfolded when Edwards locked himself in the second-floor apartment bathroom at 206 Eldridge St.

Upon arriving at the scene with a search warrant, officers were informed by two women who answered the door that Edwards was armed. Diana Albahondo, a witness who lives across the street, described the situation, stating, “There was one police car there and the guy was waving a gun out the window.” The Manhattan Violent Felony Squad, having been alerted to the presence of a gun, immediately took action.

It was later revealed that Edwards was not only wanted for a shooting earlier in 2023 but also had a lengthy criminal history. His criminal record included 11 arrests dating back to 1995, with a 12-year prison sentence for attempted rape and the sale of a controlled substance. Edwards was released from prison in 2012 but was subsequently arrested for rape again in February 2023. Additionally, he had an active warrant for failing to register as a sex offender.

Footage captured from the scene on Eldridge St showed several NYPD officers armed with long guns surrounding the building. Officers equipped with riot shields stood outside, patiently waiting for a peaceful resolution to the situation. Unfortunately, shots were fired when SWAT officers entered the apartment at approximately 2 pm. Witnesses reported hearing at least six shots shortly after a SWAT team entered the building.

It was during this exchange that Edwards reportedly fired at the police, striking a ballistic shield protecting one of the officers. In response, another officer returned fire. Tragically, Edwards was critically injured and was rushed to Bellevue Hospital. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead at the hospital. The officer who was shot during the incident was also taken to a nearby hospital but suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Authorities had been attempting to question Edwards regarding an unsolved shooting that had occurred earlier in the year. The police were able to track him down to the apartment where the standoff occurred. Prior to the shooting, witnesses saw a SWAT team enter the building, an ominous sight that foreshadowed the tragic events that would soon unfold.

During the standoff, Edwards barricaded himself in the apartment’s bathroom, brandishing his weapon in an act of defiance against the authorities. In an attempt to gain better insight into the situation, officers deployed a drone, which Edwards aggressively attacked using a broomstick.

The incident created a significant disruption in the neighborhood, leading to road closures and warnings for residents to avoid the area. University Settlement, an organization providing education and social services, reported that one of its buildings had to be accessed from the south due to the ongoing police activity.

The death of Kent Edwards has left a community and law enforcement grappling with the consequences of a violent and troubled individual. As the investigation continues, authorities will work to piece together the events that led to this tragic outcome, hoping to prevent similar incidents in the future..