New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation has opened an assessment into the death of a Queens pedestrian after the person was struck by a car driven by an off-duty NYPD officer late on April 25. The pedestrian was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead three days later on April 28. State investigators say the review will determine whether a full criminal inquiry is warranted.
State investigators open assessment
At about 8:46 p.m. on April 25, an off-duty NYPD officer was driving a personal vehicle on 32nd Avenue and, while turning left onto 92nd Street, struck a pedestrian, according to the New York Attorney General's Office. The office said the person was transported to a local hospital and was pronounced dead on April 28. The AG’s notice describes the information as preliminary and subject to change.
What the Office of Special Investigation does
Under New York’s Executive Law Section 70-b, the Office of Special Investigation is responsible for assessing any incident in which a police or peace officer may have caused a death and may move to a full investigation if the assessment indicates the officer may have caused the death, per the New York State Senate. The law empowers OSI to gather evidence, interview witnesses and commission forensic work as needed. That independent review is intended to determine whether criminal charges should be considered.
Recent precedent in Queens
OSI’s involvement in officer-involved deaths has drawn close attention; in April the office released a report on a Flushing Meadows incident and opted not to seek charges, a decision that generated public scrutiny, as reported by Streetsblog. That outcome shows one possible path OSI cases can take: a detailed public report explaining why prosecutors will not present evidence to a grand jury. Community groups and safety advocates often monitor those reports for policy recommendations or calls for reforms.
What happens next
OSI’s initial assessment will determine whether investigators open a full inquiry; if they do, the office can subpoena records, review audio and video, and potentially present evidence to a grand jury, as outlined in the statute. The AG’s press notice did not identify the officer or the pedestrian and reiterated that the facts are preliminary. Any decision about criminal charges would follow a full investigation and, where appropriate, grand-jury review.
Coverage and updates
Black Star News reported the opening of this review on May 1 and summarized the AG’s announcement. We will watch for any public statements from the NYPD, the Queens District Attorney’s Office or family members and for further filings or OSI notifications that would indicate the inquiry’s direction. For now, OSI’s assessment is the primary public notice that a state review is underway.
