On a humid Friday night in mid-August, the quiet of Staten Island’s Great Kills neighborhood was shattered by a confrontation that left a man dead and a community grappling with questions about mental health, policing, and public safety. The incident, which unfolded just after 8 p.m. on August 15, 2025, near Andrew’s Diner on Hylan Boulevard and William Avenue, involved two off-duty New York Police Department officers and a 44-year-old man wielding what turned out to be a realistic-looking imitation firearm.
According to Assistant Chief Melissa Eger of the NYPD Patrol Borough of Staten Island, the first sign of trouble came in the form of a 911 call. The caller reported “a male with a gun in the rear of Andrew’s Diner,” a popular local eatery. Responding to the call, two off-duty officers—one of whom was later identified as a female detective with the Internal Affairs Bureau—found themselves face-to-face with the suspect behind the diner. Surveillance video, reviewed by police, captured the tense moments that followed.
As diners inside the restaurant alerted authorities to the man’s menacing presence, the two officers confronted him outside. According to multiple sources cited by The New York Post and SILive.com, the suspect, Jesse Campbell, ignored repeated commands to drop what appeared to be a firearm. Instead, he pointed the weapon directly at the officers. “The officers gave multiple verbal commands for the male to remove his hands from the firearm and to put the firearm down, but he did not comply and pointed the firearm at our officers,” Assistant Chief Eger stated during a press conference. One officer then fired multiple rounds, striking Campbell several times.
Officers immediately performed life-saving measures as they awaited emergency medical responders. Campbell was transported to Northwell Staten Island University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No civilians or officers were injured during the incident.
In the aftermath, police recovered an imitation firearm—a realistic BB gun—at the scene. The weapon’s appearance had been convincing enough to prompt the officers’ urgent response. “Our officers were confronted with a dangerous and unpredictable situation, and they attempted to de-escalate the situation multiple times,” Eger said, emphasizing the challenges officers face when split-second decisions are required in the field.
The shooting prompted a massive NYPD response. Dozens of police officials descended on William Avenue, blocking off streets and warning residents via social media to avoid the area due to the heavy presence of emergency vehicles. The NYPD’s Force Investigation Division launched a formal investigation, as is standard protocol in officer-involved shootings. Surveillance footage from the scene is being reviewed as part of the inquiry.
As details emerged, the suspect was identified as Jesse Campbell, a 44-year-old man with a documented criminal history in New York. According to sources cited by The New York Post, Campbell also had significant mental health issues. Family members later told police that Campbell had expressed intentions earlier in the day to provoke a fatal encounter with law enforcement—a phenomenon sometimes referred to as “suicide by cop.” Police are actively investigating whether this was indeed Campbell’s motive in the confrontation.
Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella issued a statement soon after the shooting, praising the off-duty officers’ actions: “It appears that an off-duty member of the NYPD heroically stepped up to keep the public safe, and we are thankful. It is our understanding that no civilians were injured in the incident.” Fossella also reassured residents that the area was secure and that there were no ongoing threats to public safety.
The incident has sparked renewed discussions about the difficulties faced by police officers who encounter individuals experiencing mental health crises, especially when those individuals are armed with weapons—or realistic replicas. Assistant Chief Eger highlighted the professionalism and bravery of the involved officers, stating, “The men and women of the NYPD are never truly off the job, and tonight we saw that firsthand. Two off-duty officers bravely ran toward danger and took immediate action.”
According to ABC7NY, the timeline of events began with the 911 call reporting a man with a gun. After the initial confrontation behind the diner, Campbell left the area but was soon spotted again by one of the off-duty officers walking on William Avenue, the gun still visible. The officer quickly alerted her colleague, and together the pair confronted Campbell once more. Despite their repeated commands, Campbell raised the imitation firearm toward them, prompting the officer to open fire.
The use of a fake gun in a public setting—particularly one that closely resembles a real firearm—adds a layer of complexity to the tragedy. As CBS News and NBC New York both noted, officers must make life-or-death decisions in a matter of seconds. In this case, the officers’ perception of an immediate threat was shaped by Campbell’s actions and the realistic appearance of his weapon.
Community reactions have been mixed. While some residents have expressed gratitude for the officers’ quick response in preventing potential harm to bystanders, others have raised concerns about the broader issues of mental health support and the risks associated with “suicide by cop” scenarios. The incident has also reignited debates about the proliferation of imitation firearms and the dangers they pose—not only to the public but to those who carry them.
As the NYPD’s investigation continues, key questions remain: Could anything have been done differently to prevent the loss of life? Are there gaps in the city’s mental health services that need to be addressed to avert similar tragedies? For now, what’s clear is that a confluence of mental health struggles, a realistic-looking weapon, and a tense encounter with law enforcement led to a fatal outcome on an otherwise ordinary Friday night.
For many on Staten Island, the events of August 15 will serve as a somber reminder of the unpredictable challenges faced by both police officers and those struggling with mental illness. As officials work to piece together the full story, the community is left to reflect on the fine line between threat and tragedy—and the urgent need for compassion, vigilance, and reform.
