The New York Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has announced the launch of a probe into the death of Jesse Campbell, who lost his life following an interaction with off-duty NYPD officers on Staten Island. The incident, which took place on Friday, ended tragically when Mr. Campbell was shot by one of the officers. A fake gun was recovered from the scene, according to an official statement released by the Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation.
According to details made available by the OSI, the incident occurred around 8:22 p.m. along William Avenue. Allegedly spotting a man holding what appeared to be a weapon, two off-duty officers approached Jesse Campbell. They reportedly instructed him to refrain from moving his hands before one officer fired his service weapon. The preliminary statement by the OSI suggests that, struck by the bullet, Campbell was found with an imitation pistol afterwards.
As per New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, the OSI is required to evaluate any reported incident in which a death could have been caused by the actions or omissions of police or peace officers, whether the officers were on or off duty, and regardless of whether the deceased was armed or unarmed—or in custody. It is the protocol of the OSI, should their initial assessment suggest that an officer's conduct may have been a contributing factor in a death, to pursue a complete investigation into the circumstances.
It is important to recognize that the OSI's opening of an investigation does not inherently imply any wrongdoing by the officers involved. The current facts of the case as described by the OSI are tentative and subject to further investigation and revelation. Similarly, the ownership of the imitation weapon found alongside Mr. Campbell is undergoing careful scrutiny by the investigators.
As this investigation unfolds, the OSI assures the public that their pursuit is for the truth, to ensure accountability, and to uphold the justice that the society so dependably entrusts in their hands.
