Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation Opens Investigation into Civilian Deaths in Onondaga County

NEW YORK – The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has opened an investigation into the death of two individuals who died on September 6, 2023 following an encounter with a member of the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO).

In the early morning hours of September 6, an OCSO deputy responded to a report of suspicious vehicles at the intersection of Danzig Street and Poznan Avenue in the town of DeWitt. Upon arrival, the deputy found two vehicles. One vehicle fled the scene. As the other vehicle drove away the deputy fired his gun. The vehicle fled the scene and was later found on Mooney Avenue in Syracuse, with two individuals inside. One individual was pronounced dead on the scene, and the other was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI assesses every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person by an act or omission. Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed. Also, the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated. If OSI’s assessment indicates an officer may have caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident.

These are preliminary facts and subject to change.