NEWBURGH N.Y. – A man who pulled a gun on Newburgh City Police late Friday afternoon was shot and killed by officers.
Officers spotted a man in the area of 40 William Street at 5 p.m. He was wanted for questioning in a shooting incident that occurred the day before in the area of Benkard Avenue and William Street, Mid Hudson News reported.
When officers approached the man, he pulled a silver handgun. A struggle ensured and the handgun discharged and several officers returned fire, killing him, said Orange County District Attorney.
The officers were taken to the hospital for treatment. The suspect was pronounced dead at Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital.
State Police and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office are investigating pending a grand jury presentation.
Police from several agencies, which included Orange, Ulster and Dutchess counties, and the FBI, were called to the city because of large crowds gathering.
Newburgh City Councilman Omari Shakur, meanwhile, has posted a video on Facebook saying “an unarmed black man” was shot and killed by police, who he called “pigs” and said they are “killers.”
Shakur is the same individual who went on a vulgarity laced tirade last month when an officer contacted him regarding his vehicle blocking traffic.
Following the February encounter, the Police Superior Officers Association, a union for high-ranking Newburgh officers, said in a statement that Shakur told a detective, “I’m your (expletive) boss,” and threatened to run over another uniformed officer, telling him to “pull your gun out (expletive) ’cause I’m getting ready to go at you.”
Furthermore, Shakur dropped numerous F-bombs during the incident.
After Friday’s fatal shooting, Shakur’s actions facilitated street violence.
A Facebook page that is attributed to him is filled with hateful posts trying to absolve the armed suspect in the shooting with police.
