The Office of Special Investigation (OSI) under New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Apr. 21 that it has completed its investigation into the death of Winston Johnson, who died following an encounter with New York City Police Department officers on Staten Island on March 6, 2025. The OSI concluded that a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officers’ use of deadly physical force was justified under the law. A final Investigation Report will be released at a later date.
This announcement is significant as it addresses public interest in police encounters involving use of force and transparency in such investigations. The notification follows state law requiring independent review when a police officer may have caused a person’s death.
According to details provided by the Attorney General’s office, officers responded to a 911 call at approximately 5:23 a.m. reporting gunfire in a parking lot at 2750 Veterans Road; Mr. Johnson himself was identified as the caller. Officers found Mr. Johnson near his car holding a gun, witnessed him fire into the air, and then point his weapon toward them. Despite repeated commands for him to drop his firearm while officers used their vehicles for cover, Mr. Johnson did not comply and several officers discharged their weapons after one fired first. He was transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead, and authorities recovered a gun from the scene.
The incident was recorded on body-worn cameras worn by responding officers and security video captured Mr. Johnson holding what appeared to be a firearm during the encounter.
Letitia James heads the New York Attorney General’s office according to the official website. The agency operates as both public law enforcement and legal advocacy for New York State according to its official website. It promotes social justice through civil rights enforcement and consumer advocacy according to its official website, provides services such as consumer fraud investigations and tenant dispute mediation according to its official website, ensures public safety while upholding civil rights protections according to its official website, and works through regional offices across New York State addressing local legal matters according to its official website.
A final report regarding this case will follow as required by state law.
