Long Island police shoot sword-swinging man who faked a hostage call in suicide-by-cop attempt
Joseph Restaino, 33, allegedly called 911 to his Bay Shore home and told operators that he was holding hostages inside and was suicidal, according to Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina.
Joseph Restaino has a history of mental illness.
ABC7NY
Advertisement
When officers arrived and knocked on the door, they were greeted by Restaino holding a sword in his hands, prompting officers to tase the homeowner and demand he drop the sword — but the taser was ineffective at slowing him down.
Restaino, who police said has a history of mental illness, wouldn't give up and kept attempting to charge the officers with the blade when one of them fired at least one shot into his chest, according to officials.
Police found no hostages inside the home and determined the 911 call was a ruse to set up the failed suicide attempt.
Advertisement
Neither officer who attempted to the attempted suicide by cop were injured.
ABC7NY
Restaino survived the shooting and was in surgery Tuesday night at South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, where he remains under medical supervision.
Suffolk County police told The Post that no charges have currently been filed against Restaino, but remained adamant that may change as he recovers.
Neither of the responding officers were injured.
Advertisement
The incident marked the second police shooting in that North Bay Shore neighborhood in less than two weeks — stirring concern among residents.
On July 24, Nieves Reyes, 48, stabbed his 66-year-old coworker Eugene Allen to death with a machete and shot a Suffolk County cop in the face before barricading himself inside his home and engaging in a stand-off with police, authorities and sources said.
Reyes pleaded not guilty Friday in Riverhead to second-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder of a police officer.
Advertisement
Residents told Newsday they were able to hear both police shootings unfold, just blocks from one another.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
7 hours ago
- New York Post
Trump secretly authorized military force against Latin American drug cartels classified as foreign terrorist organizations
WASHINGTON — President Trump has secretly authorized the military to use force against Latin American drug cartels classified as foreign terrorist organizations, The Post has learned. The move is the most aggressive action Trump has yet taken against gangs trafficking drugs like fentanyl across the US-Mexico border, whose activities were previously the purview of federal law enforcement. The order, first reported Friday by the New York Times, give US forces official permission to engage cartels on land and sea. 'The president is determined to not just dismantle – but completely destroy – [Venezuelan dictator Nicolas] Maduro's Cartel de Los Soles and obliterate their operations in the Western hemisphere,' a source close to the White House said. The anti-cartel effort is being coordinated among several departments, including the Department of Defense, Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Treasury, the source added. 'President Trump's top priority is protecting the homeland,' deputy White House press secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement, 'which is why he took the bold step to designate several cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations.'
New York Post
10 hours ago
- New York Post
Murder of 14-year-old boy in Bronx playground was filmed — and revenge for attack he did not commit: sources
The 14-year-old boy stabbed to death by a gang of teens in a Bronx playground appears to have been jumped in a case of mistaken identity — with someone filming he was pistol-whipped, beaten and repeatedly knifed, according to police sources and prosecutors. Ninth-grader Angel Mendoza was jumped by a mob of kids at Williamsbridge Oval Playground in Norwood late Tuesday in revenge for an earlier fight that he was not involved in, law enforcement sources told The Post. Cellphone video captured the pack zeroing in on Mendoza before smashing him 'in the face with a Taurus .9mm pistol' and then repeatedly striking and kicking him on 'his head, face and body,' court documents state. 5 Angel Mendoza, 14, was stabbed to death during a brawl at Williamsbridge Oval Playground in the Bronx. family handout One of the attackers was then filmed stabbing him 'one time in the chest and one time in the abdomen,' the court documents said. It wasn't immediately clear if the gang filmed the violence themselves or if it was captured by a bystander. Still, the youngster — who regularly hung out at the park — was likely just collateral damage given he was friends with two teens who had earlier clashed with the gang shortly before the bloodbath, sources said. Mendoza wasn't believed to have had any involvement in the earlier melee, which apparently saw another teen stabbed, according to the sources. 5 Blood stains on the ground of the park after the fatal stabbing. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post 5 Mendoza's mother Ramona (left in the white shirt) getting comforted by her husband and a neighbor after the teen's death. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post Cops found Mendoza clinging to life when they rushed to the blood-covered playground around 7:30 p.m. He was taken to Jacobi Medical Center, but was pronounced dead just before 9 p.m., police said. A 17-year-old boy who was also found stabbed in the shoulder and abdomen and went to Montefiore Medical Center, where he was in stable condition, cops added. Four teens – Andrew Ansah, 18, Jordan Williams, 18, and two boys, ages 15 and 16, whose names were not released because they are minors – have since been arrested and charged over the grisly killing. 5 A NYC Parks worker washing away the blood. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post 5 The scene of the stabbing in Williamsbridge Oval Park. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock They all face charges of murder, manslaughter and two counts each of gang assault and criminal possession of a weapon. At least one knife and a firearm were recovered at the scene, according to court documents. The victim lived just three blocks from the popular park and would regularly frequent the hotspot to play basketball, his family said.
New York Post
19 hours ago
- New York Post
Texans' Jimmie Ward arrested for violated bond condition related to previous arrest on assault charges
Texans safety Jimmie Ward was behind bars on Thursday night in Montgomery County, Texas after he violated a condition of his bond related to an arrest in June on assault charges. Ward's attorney, Steve Jackson, told The Post there were no new allegations or a new arrest of his client; rather, he had tested positive for consuming alcohol, which is a violation of his bond conditions. 'Jimmie did not realize this was a zero tolerance for alcohol and he tested positive for consuming alcohol,' Jackson said in an email. 'As a result, there is an overnight sanction in jail for this. He will be out tomorrow morning.' Advertisement 3 Jimmie Ward enters the field before the Texans' win over the Dolphins on Dec 15, 2024. AP Ward appeared on the Montgomery County Jail website on Thursday night as having been arrested on a warrant relating to a felony offense. The online record also indicated that no bail had been listed and that he would be released by court order on Friday. Advertisement The veteran safety originally was arrested on June 12 at his house in Magnolia, Texas, after Ward's fiancée alleged that the football player had assaulted, strangled and threatened her. The victim filed for and was granted an emergency protective order. Ward is facing a third-degree charge of alleged strangulation and has been assigned a court date on Aug. 13. 3 Jimmie Ward intercepts a pass against Jermar Jefferson during the Texans' loss to the Lions on Nov. 10, 2024 in Houston. Getty Images Advertisement In his comments to The Post, Jackson said that they 'will be presenting a grand jury packet in hopes of getting this case dismissed on August 31.' Ward has been free on $30,000 bail. Ward had been placed on the Texans' physically unable to perform list at the start of training camp because of offseason foot surgery he underwent. 3 Jimmie Ward has been arrested in Texas for domestic violence in June. MCS/MEGA Advertisement The NFL is investigating the incident and Texans general manager Nick Caserio told reporters on the first day of camp that they would cooperate with the league inquiry. 'Kind of let the legal process take care of itself. We have been in contact with the league. We will work with the league. We will be compliant on our end, do the best we can,' he said. 'So, I think it's day-to-day, but kind of let that process kind of take care of itself. Whatever the outcome is we'll handle it accordingly.'
