A Bronx man, Michael Dotel, 30, nicknamed The Hulk due to his size, met a tragic end when police shot him on December 24, 2023. Dotel, facing multiple criminal charges, was fatally shot after holding his mother captive with a knife.
The incident unfolded at Dotel’s family apartment on Creston Avenue in Bedford Park around 11:20 a.m. Dotel, known for his strength and battling mental health and drug issues, had a history of criminal cases, including assault and drug-related charges.
Dotel’s father, who had managed to escape with his younger children, called 911, prompting the police to respond. Negotiations failed as Dotel, ignoring commands, continued to threaten his mother with the knife.
Despite having three open criminal cases, including drug-related offenses, Dotel persisted in his violent actions. The police, fearing for the mother’s life, took decisive action. NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell reported that Dotel was on the verge of harming his mother when a single shot was fired, fatally striking him in the head.
Transported to St. Barnabas Hospital, Dotel was pronounced dead, while his mother, treated for injuries, is expected to recover. Dotel’s father, appreciative of the police intervention, explained that his son had battled mental health and addiction for an extended period, seeking help unsuccessfully.
While the Bronx District Attorney’s Office remains silent on Dotel’s pending cases, the NYPD’s Force Investigation Division is conducting an inquiry into the shooting. Fortunately, no officers sustained injuries during the incident.
