NYPD officers cleared in deadly encounter with Nathan Scott after OSI determines use of force followed commands and aligned with imminent threat standards, New York AG Letitia James’ report claims

New York – On March 18, 2024, Nathan Scott tragically lost his life following an encounter with New York City Police Department officers in Brooklyn. The incident, which unfolded on the streets of Brooklyn, led to an in-depth investigation by the Office of Special Investigation (OSI) under New York Attorney General Letitia James. The OSI released its comprehensive report detailing the circumstances surrounding Mr. Scott’s death and the legal conclusions drawn from the evidence gathered.

The sequence of events began when Mr. Scott, having been robbed by two individuals, pursued his assailants down East 56th Street towards Lenox Road. In response to a ShotSpotter activation and several 911 calls, NYPD officers were dispatched to the location with reports of a man firing a gun. Upon their arrival, officers observed a man—later identified as Mr. Scott—continuing his pursuit on East 57th Street, between Remsen Avenue and East 56th Street, while discharging a firearm.

Confronted with a volatile situation, the responding officers engaged Mr. Scott, who fit the description of the reported shooter. According to the OSI report, the officers issued commands for him to drop his weapon before ultimately discharging their service weapons. Mr. Scott was subsequently transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The OSI’s investigation into the shooting was meticulous, involving the analysis of security and body-worn camera footage, interviews with the officers involved, and a review of the legal standards applicable to the use of deadly force by law enforcement. The focus was on whether the officers’ actions could be legally justified under the circumstances.

New York law stipulates that a police officer is justified in using deadly physical force when there is a reasonable belief that it is necessary to defend oneself or others from imminent use of deadly physical force. Given that Mr. Scott was actively firing a weapon in a public street, the OSI concluded that it would be difficult for a prosecutor to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers’ actions were not justified.

The OSI’s final report states that, under the circumstances presented, the use of deadly force by the officers was legally justified, and as such, no criminal charges would be pursued against the officers involved. This conclusion, reached after a thorough examination of all available evidence and the legal framework governing police conduct, underscores the complexities involved in split-second decisions made by law enforcement in critical situations.

The report aims to provide transparency and a detailed account of the events to the public, as part of the OSI’s commitment to scrutinize incidents involving police use of deadly force. While the decision not to press charges may not bring closure to all parties, it is based on a rigorous interpretation of the law and the facts as determined by the investigation. The New York Attorney General’s office continues to emphasize its dedication to thorough, impartial reviews of such serious incidents, ensuring accountability and the adherence to legal standards in all actions taken by law enforcement personnel.