The New York Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation has launched an inquiry into the fatal shooting of a civilian by NYPD officers in Queens. Gary Dean Worthy was identified as the decedent, pronounced dead at a local hospital following a shootout with police on Tuesday. According to a public announcement from the Attorney General’s Office, the incident occurred after officers responded to a 911 call about a robbery.

An officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the exchange of gunfire and has since been released from the hospital. Meanwhile, a firearm was reportedly found at the scene by the police. Stipulated under New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, the OSI is tasked with reviewing incidents wherein an officer may have contributed to an individual's death by any act or omission, encompassing scenarios where the decedent was armed or unarmed or whether the encounter happened while the officer was on- or off-duty.

The investigation comes amid ongoing tensions and demands for increased police accountability. The OSI's mandate is to determine whether the officers involved in incidents such as the one that led to Mr. Worthy's death, might have committed any wrongdoing. Details are still emerging and what is known is considered preliminary and could ultimately be revised.

With this development, the Attorney General's Office emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the OSI's investigations. As stated by the AG's office, "If OSI’s assessment indicates an officer may have caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident." The community, still reeling from the news, awaits further information as the OSI moves forward with its fact-finding mission. No immediate comments were available from the NYPD or representatives for the Worthy family at the time of this report.