On September 13, 2024, Vilmond Jean-Baptiste's life came to a tragic end following a police encounter in Brooklyn, and the New York Attorney General Letitia James has now made public the police body-worn camera footage from that day. The Attorney General's Office released this footage as part of an ongoing investigation to ensure increased transparency and build trust between the public and law enforcement.
Breaking into an apartment with the mission to serve a warrant around 5:21 p.m., members of the NYPD’s Brooklyn South Warrant Squad were faced with Jean-Baptiste, who they claim was brandishing a knife. Commands to drop the weapon were apparently unheeded, and the situation escalated as Jean-Baptiste allegedly moved towards the officers, leading to one officer deploying a taser, and three officers discharging their firearms. Transported to a local hospital, Jean-Baptiste was pronounced dead there, according to a statement from the New York Attorney General's Office.
The footage released by Attorney General James is part of a protocol outlined under New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, which mandates that any incident involving police officers that may have resulted in a person's death must be assessed by the Office of Special Investigation (OSI). This assessment can lead to a full-fledged investigation, regardless of whether the deceased was armed or unarmed, or in police custody at the time.
It’s important to emphasize that the release of the footage signifies no opinion on any party's guilt or innocence relating to Vilmond Jean-Baptiste's death. As the encounter with Jean-Baptiste quickly unfolded after the police entered the apartment, the officers, equipped with body cameras, captured the incident with the intention of maintaining the integrity of events as they happened. Viewers are warned of the disturbing content within the videos, which can be viewed on the Attorney General's website, but yet, the video release only marks a step in the journey towards justice and accountability, not its culmination. as noted by the New York Attorney General's Office.
