The New York Attorney General's Office is investigating the circumstances of a fatal police encounter involving a man in Syracuse. The Office of Special Investigation (OSI) is now leading the probe into the death of Donnell Hogan, who was shot by a Syracuse Police Department (SPD) officer on Tuesday night. This investigation follows an altercation in an apartment building where Hogan was reportedly armed and fired at the officers, as described in a statement from the Attorney General's Office.
Upon their arrival at North Townsend Street, officers were stated to have found Hogan, who used a wheelchair, in possession of a gun in the building's second-floor hallway. The escalated situation saw Hogan allegedly shoot at the police, prompting one officer to promptly, but controversially, fire back with his patrol rifle. Hogan was hit by the gunfire and later died at a local facility, becoming another focal point in the continuing discussion around police use of force.
In accordance with New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, the OSI is mandated to scrutinize any incident where a police officer's actions may have resulted in a fatality, regardless of whether the officer was on duty or the deceased was armed. This policy ensures that each case is evaluated thoroughly and justly, aiming to hold law enforcement to account and to maintain public trust.
As the investigation continues, the details released by the Attorney General's Office remain preliminary and may change as additional evidence is gathered. The Office of Special Investigation is tasked with conducting a detailed review to establish the circumstances surrounding Mr. Hogan’s death.
