New York Attorney General Letitia James has made public body-worn camera footage as part of the investigation into the death of a man named Shelton Ennis, who died after an encounter with NYPD officers. This footage, while not a determinant of guilt or innocence, provides concrete visuals into the events leading up to Ennis's death on the night of June 26, 2025.
The incident unfolded around 9:52 p.m. near 137th Street and Riverside Drive in Manhattan, when Ennis ran from NYPD officers and was pursued. Ultimately, an officer caught Ennis, both falling to the ground during the apprehension. After the encounter, Ennis was taken to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. A knife was found at the scene by the officers. The Office of the New York State Attorney General emphasizes that the release of this footage does not imply any judgment on the parties involved. The video is available to the public and comes with a caveat of potentially disturbing content. You can view the footage, albeit with discretion advised.
The investigation into Ennis's death falls under the state's Executive Law Section 70-b, which mandates that the Office of Special Investigation (OSI) review situations where a police or peace officer may have caused someone's death, whether the incident involved an armed or unarmed individual, and whether it occurred while the officer was on or off duty. Should the OSI determine a potential causation of death by an officer, a full investigation is launched.
