A Bronx cop had no choice but to shoot a mallet-wielding burglar after two attempts to subdue him with pepper spray failed, police officials said yesterday.
Kevin Mathis, 46, discharged a fire extinguisher and lunged at cops with a metal mallet before he was wounded on East 139th Street in Mott Haven at around 9 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.
Cops responding to a burglary spotted Mathis – who has nine prior arrests, including assault and drug charges – rummaging in the back yard.
Mathis fired the extinguisher at the officers, cops said. The officers doused him with pepper spray after he ignored an order to stop.
Mathis moved toward the officers and got another face full of spray, authorities said. He then charged with the mallet in one hand and a plate in the other.
That’s when one of the cops fired twice, hitting Mathis once in each leg.
Mathis was listed in stable condition at Lincoln Hospital.