'I saw the blood dripping on the snow': LI officer stabbed during domestic 911 call

LONG ISLAND (PIX11) --“It was pop, pop, pop, pop!” Zenen Lopez says after he heard a few gunshots, he warned his family, then rushed to see the aftermath outside 1138 Udall Rd, in Bayshore, Long Island.

An officer was giving CPR to the suspect lying on the ground, as another was checking his colleague’s bleeding arm.

“I saw the blood dripping on the snow,” said Lopez.

Suffolk County police say they got an 9-11 call just after 9 a.m. Saturday morning from a wife saying her husband was acting violently.

Three officers responded to the scene, and officials say when they approached the screen door, the woman’s husband, Taiquell Woodson, charged at one of the officers with a large knife.

“The officer retreated and fell into the snow in the front yard. Woodson jumps on top of him with a knife and starts stabbing the officer, clearly attempting to him,” said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rob Waring.

The police commissioner says Woodson also tried to pierce the officer’s chest with the weapon but was blocked by the cop’s bulletproof vest. That’s when an officer tried first unsuccessfully to tase him and then others opened fire, stopping the attack.

“I want to be clear, this was a justified shooting. Without the decisive action or the officers one of them is would’ve been killed today,” said Commissioner Waring.

Officials say Woodson was known to police and had been arrested for robbery in the past. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead. He was 33 years old. His wife and one-year-old daughter were not hurt. Doctors say the injured officer may have nerve damage due to the stabbing. All the officers involved have been in the force for less than 2 years.

 “This violent career fellon was intent on killing a PO today. And it’s only because of the swift actions of the other officers…we do not have a dead officer,” said Lou Civello, Suffolk police benevolent association.

Authorities say there is body camera footage of this incident but it will not be released now.

This is an ongoing police investigation.