2 reports from Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation confirm NYPD officers were justified in fatal shootings
Two separate reports released by the New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) concluded that New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers were justified in their use of deadly force in the fatal shootings of Rameek Smith and Yoskar Feliz, both in The Bronx.
On May 10, 2022, officers spotted Rameek Smith, who seemed to have a firearm, on Third Avenue. As the officers tried to engage, Smith attempted to flee, leading to a pursuit that tragically ended in Bathgate Avenue. Smith, having already fired and injured an officer on foot, pointed his weapon at the second officer who had been trailing in a patrol car. This officer retaliated by shooting Smith, who succumbed to his injuries at a hospital later. A firearm was retrieved at the crime scene.
Similarly, on Jan. 20, 2022, NYPD officers responded to a reported apartment break-in at 3950 Bronx Boulevard. On arriving, they encountered Yoskar Feliz armed with a gun. Despite instructions to disarm, Feliz fired a shot and managed to escape through a window. Officers soon located him in Shoelace Park, where the chase resumed. Ignoring repeated commands to drop his weapon, Feliz pointed his firearm at the officers, prompting three of them to open fire. He was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, with a gun found at the scene.