Attorney General James’ Office of Special Investigation Releases Report on the Death of Shelton Ennis

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) today released its report on the death of Shelton Ennis, who died on June 26, 2025 following an encounter with members of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in Manhattan. Following a thorough investigation, which included review of body-worn camera footage and medical records, interviews with involved officers, and comprehensive legal analysis, OSI determined that a prosecutor would not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the involved officer committed a crime, and therefore criminal charges are not warranted in this case.

At 9:52 p.m. on June 26, NYPD officers saw Mr. Ennis toss away an open can of beer he had been holding in Riverside Park, near Riverside Drive and West 136th Street. The officers approached Mr. Ennis and repeatedly asked for his identification so they could issue him a summons. Mr. Ennis told officers he did not have identification on him and provided a false name and date of birth. The officers could not find the name in the NYPD database and told Mr. Ennis they would have to take him to the precinct to identify him. Mr. Ennis ran from the officers, two officers pursued him on foot, and one officer forcibly took him down from behind by wrapping his arms around Mr. Ennis’s upper body. Mr. Ennis and the officer fell forward, hitting the ground, and Mr. Ennis became unresponsive. When emergency medical services (EMS) arrived at the scene at 10:13 p.m., Mr. Ennis was breathing but unresponsive. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:49 p.m. Officers recovered a knife at the scene. The medical examiner deemed the cause of death to be the impact of Mr. Ennis hitting the ground when he was tackled, which caused a tear in a wall of the heart.

Under New York’s justification law, a police officer may use physical force to the extent they reasonably believe it to be necessary when arresting or attempting to arrest someone for a crime. In this case, officers saw Mr. Ennis holding an open container of beer in the park, in violation of New York City law. When officers asked Mr. Ennis to produce identification, he provided a false name, and officers were unable to identify him or issue a summons for the violation. The officers were therefore authorized under the law to take Mr. Ennis to the precinct to identify and charge him and were legally permitted to use force, if necessary, to carry out the arrest.

Mr. Ennis ran away from officers when they were lawfully attempting to arrest him. Therefore, it was reasonable for the officer to pursue and apprehend Mr. Ennis. There is no evidence that the officer intended to cause injury, nor evidence of criminal recklessness or criminal negligence under the law. Under these circumstances, given the law and the evidence, a prosecutor would not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officer committed a crime, and OSI determined that criminal charges could not be pursued in this matter.