Mental‑health shooting victim hopes Mamdani administration will settle NYPD lawsuit

Context In 2023, officers responded to a call about de la Cruz, who was experiencing a mental health episode and only spoke Spanish. The encounter ended with a bullet striking him; the projectile remains in his body. A federal judge dismissed his initial claim last month, saying the officers’ actions were justified because they viewed him as a violent threat. De la Cruz appealed to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and filed a new suit in Bronx Supreme Court this week.

Key Facts De la Cruz continues to live with the bullet, which causes ongoing physical disability and requires further surgery. His legal team argues the case deserves sympathy under Mamdani, who has criticized police violence and backed non‑police responses to mental health emergencies. The lawsuit requests monetary damages for his medical care and asks the city to replace the NYPD’s mental health emergency response with clinicians.

What It Means If the Mamdani administration chooses to settle, it could avoid a prolonged trial and signal a shift toward the mayor’s promised Office of Community Safety, which aims to reduce police involvement in mental health calls. A settlement would also provide de la Cruz with funds for treatment and could set a precedent for similar cases. Should talks fail, the appeal proceeds, leaving the outcome uncertain.

Watch for whether Mamdani’s office engages in settlement discussions or lets the case move toward trial in the coming months.