The New York Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation (OSI) is currently probing the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of Lahione Soto by an off-duty NYPD officer in Manhattan. The incident, which occurred on Sunday evening on West 173rd Street, resulted in Soto being struck by a round discharged from the officer's service weapon. Soto was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. A firearm was recovered from the scene, as detailed in a press release issued by the Attorney General's office.
As per the New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, the OSI is tasked with scrutinizing any reported incident in which the death of a civilian may have been caused by the act or omission of police or peace officers, which includes off-duty situations and whether the deceased was armed. This inquiry follows this mandate, aiming to unravel the series of events that culminated in Mr. Soto's death. According to the same press release, these preliminary findings are subject to change as the investigation continues.
With OSI now launching a full investigation, the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of Soto by the off-duty officer will be closely examined. Authorities have not yet released the officer’s name or offered additional details about the events leading to the firearm’s discharge.
