A Brooklyn man who was shot nine times by NYPD officers inside the Sutter Avenue L-train station in September 2024 is now set to face a jury this summer. Derell Mickles is due in court on June 3, a date that puts the high-profile case back in the spotlight and renews scrutiny of police use of force and rider safety in the subway system. The September shooting wounded multiple people and sparked protests along with legal claims that are still moving through the courts.
Trial Date And Charges
According to News 12, prosecutors have charged Mickles with eight counts, including attempted aggravated assault on a police officer, menacing an officer and criminal possession of a weapon. He is being held on $200,000 cash bail at Rikers Island. Surveillance video and police body-camera footage from Sept. 15, 2024, show Mickles entering the station twice and at one point holding a pocketknife. Officers say they used a Taser before opening fire and striking him nine times. Those images, along with the pending indictment, are expected to be central pieces of evidence when the case reaches trial.
Bystander's Lawsuit And Condition
A bystander, 49-year-old Gregory Delpeche, was struck in the head during the barrage, and his family has filed a notice of claim seeking $80 million, alleging a traumatic brain injury that left him partially paralyzed and with lasting cognitive and neurological damage, according to AP. Attorneys say Delpeche remains hospitalized and that his recovery has been slow and uncertain. The filing raises a separate civil battle the city will have to confront even as the criminal case proceeds.
Footage, Police Response And Community Reaction
Body-cam and surveillance clips released after the incident show officers repeatedly ordering Mickles to drop the knife before firing, and the footage has fueled local debate about police tactics and training, as reported by The City. An internal investigation was conducted, and News 12 reports that both officers involved remain on the force. A small group of activists also gathered outside the Brooklyn district attorney’s office this week calling for accountability. Together, the footage, official reviews and visible public pressure are likely to frame how jurors and the wider public view the case.
What Comes Next
Mickles previously pleaded not guilty from a hospital bed, according to FOX 5 NY, and both his defense team and prosecutors are now preparing for jury selection and trial testimony. The criminal case and the civil claim are moving on parallel tracks, leaving the city to navigate both a high-stakes courtroom fight and a potentially costly settlement dispute. Court filings and witness accounts leading up to the June date will be the key developments to watch as the proceedings draw closer.
