Attorney General Letitia James has taken a step towards transparency by releasing security camera footage related to the death of Gary Worthy, who was killed during an exchange of gunfire with New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers in Queens on November 19, 2024. The footage, obtained through an investigation by the Office of Special Investigation (OSI) within the Attorney General's Office, captures the incident which unfolded after police responded to a 911 call about a robbery. According to the Attorney General's Office, a witness at the scene had identified Mr. Worthy as the alleged perpetrator.
During the confrontation, caught on camera, Mr. Worthy and the officers exchanged gunfire, which resulted in Mr. Worthy being transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Recovered from the scene by officers was a gun. An officer also sustained non-life-threatening injuries and, after being treated and released from a local hospital, descriptions of their condition were obtained by the press release, described as non-life-threatening.
New York State Executive Law Section 70-b requires OSI to investigate any incident where an officer’s actions or inactions may have resulted in a death, regardless of whether the officer was on or off duty, and regardless of whether the individual was armed, unarmed, in custody, or otherwise. This investigation reflects that process in action. "The release of this footage is not an expression of any opinion as to the guilt or innocence of any party in a criminal matter or any opinion as to how or whether any individual may be charged with a crime," the Attorney General's Office stated.
Attorney General James' directive outlines that the release of camera footage during OSI investigations is intended to promote public trust and ensure transparency in the judicial process, particularly in incidents involving law enforcement. If OSI’s review indicates that an officer may have been responsible for a death, a full investigation will follow to clarify the circumstances, addressing questions raised by citizens and public entities.
