Suicidal man shot by cops expected to survive

SCHENECTADY -- A suicidal man is expected to survive after he provoked an officer to shoot him three times in the lobby of The Daily Gazette's main office on Saturday afternoon, police said yesterday.

Elvis Norwood, 21, of Hattie Street, first entered the newspaper's building at 2345 Maxon Rd. Extension around 3 p.m. and asked for a drink of water.

A security guard let him in, but police were called after he displayed a 9-inch steak knife just before 4 p.m.

Officers Brett Ferris and Timothy Rizzo responded, but called for backup officers with Tasers because they are not certified to use them.

Public Safety Commissioner Wayne Bennett said only 20 officers in the department are certified to use Tasers.

As Rizzo opened a door to let the Taser-wielding officers in, Norwood ran at Ferris with the knife. Ferris fired four shots, three of which hit Norwood in the arm, chest and abdomen.

Norwood was taken to Ellis Hospital and was flown later to Albany Medical Center Hospital. He was in stable condition Saturday night.

"Everything at this point is causing us to believe that this was an attempt of suicide by the police which, regrettably, happens fairly often," Bennett said.