Six days after a domestic violence incident involving her son during which police officers acted to save a mother’s life, and in the process fatally shot her son, the victim’s heartbroken mother spoke briefly about the tragedy.

 

“Clary,” the mother of fatal gunshot victim, Michael Dotel, 30, who, as reported, was fatally shot on Saturday, Dec. 23, spoke to Norwood News briefly as she exited 2865 Creston Avenue, where the incident transpired.

 

The grieving mother’s right eye was seen bruised and black, and the area underneath her left eye was also black. Clary, 45, was asked if, in her opinion, she felt the police had handled the situation correctly. She replied simply, “No.”

 

She then went on to say that she had sought help for her son two weeks earlier, recalling, “I tried to ask for help in the hospital for mental… he was so depressed, before, yes. They didn’t help me. I took him for observation. They didn’t do anything at St. Barnabas Hospital.”

Asked if there was a GoFundMe page set up to help her with expenses, Clary replied, “I need someone to help me make one. I need help with that.” Another family member added that the family hoped to create one to help with Dotel’s burial expenses, as well as establishing a trust fund for Dotel’s two children.

 

The same family member added that the family would hold “one press conference” to announce the launch of the GoFundMe page, as well as dispel many of what they said were “rumors going around” about what happened, adding that some residents of the block spoke to members of the media and some of the information shared “was not correct.”

 

Clary was asked about a photo which had been placed above a memorial for her son, surrounded by candles outside the building. Clary sadly replied, “That’s my son. That was him, before.”

 

A message affixed below the photo, which we were informed had been written by Dotel’s sister, read, “To the first love of my life, I can’t believe I’m sitting here writing this.” It continued, “It pains me that you are no longer with us.”

 

Asked what had been upsetting Dotel before his death, his mother replied, “He was depressed and he had a lot of problems.” She added, “It’s very sad.”

 

As reported, NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said at the time, “The cops entered the apartment. They observed in a very small, confined space, a subject holding his mother in a front headlock, with a large carving knife to her throat. She was clearly injured and bleeding from that area.”

Chell added, “Our officers gave numerous commands to drop the knife. However, our officer discharged his firearm, striking the subject once in the head, and saved the mother’s life. He was rendered aid; he was removed to hospital where he has since been pronounced [deceased].”

 

Norwood News contacted St. Barnabas Hospital for comment on Clary’s allegation that her family had attempted to seek help for her son’s mental health problems. We did not receive an immediate response.

Local services for those affected by domestic or gender-based violence are available in The Bronx. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or gender-based violence, call 311 and ask to be connected to a NYC Family Justice Center or walk-in Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call the NYC 24/7 Domestic Violence Hotline on 1-800-621-4673, or visit the NYC Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence for more information.

 

If you are in immediate danger, if you can, dial 911.

 

Help is available to those living with a mental illness. See attached flier above for more details.