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AG releases body camera footage of officer-involved fatal shooting in Rockland County

March 26th 2024

The state attorney general has released body camera video from the investigation into a deadly officer-involved shooting in Rockland County. The videos show the vantage points from both state troopers involved in the shooting of Rakim Tillery on Jan. 3 on the Thruway. Police say Tillery was being chased by officers after an incident in Albany. When they stopped him, state police say he opened fire at the troopers, and they returned fire.

Mr. Tillery was declared dead at the scene. A gun was recovered at the scene. AG Letitia James’s office says they released the footage to the public to increase transparency and strengthen public trust in these matters. It added that the release is “not an expression of any opinion as to the guilt or innocence of any party in a criminal matter or any opinion as to how or whether any individual may be charged with a crime.”

SOURCE = News 12

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Attorney General James Releases Footage from Investigation into the Death of Rakim Tillery

March 26th 2024

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today released police body-worn camera footage that her office obtained as part of its ongoing investigation into the death of Rakim Tillery, who died on January 3, 2024 following an encounter with the New York State Police (NYSP) in Ramapo, Rockland County. On the afternoon of January 3, two NYSP troopers pulled over a car on the New York State Thruway based on a report about an incident that had taken place earlier the same day in Albany. Mr. Tillery was the driver of the car. Mr. Tillery fired a gun at the troopers, and the troopers fired their guns at Mr. Tillery. Mr. Tillery was declared dead at the scene. A gun was recovered at the scene.

The Office of Special Investigation (OSI) of the Attorney General’s Office released videos from body-worn cameras that the two NYSP troopers were equipped with during the incident. The release of these videos follows Attorney General James’ directive that camera footage obtained by her office in the course of an OSI investigation be released to the public in order to increase transparency and strengthen public trust in these matters.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 caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident. The release of this footage is not an expression of any opinion as to the guilt or innocence of any party in a criminal matter or any opinion as to how or whether any individual may be charged with a crime. 

SOURCE = New York State Attorney General

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Police release identity of Albany shooting suspect shot and killed by police

Janaury 4th 2024

Police have identified an Albany man as the shooting suspect killed by troopers in Rockland County on Wednesday. Rakim A. Tillery, 35, was traveling in a 2009 Mercedes on the Thruway when he was stopped at around 2:53 p.m. in Ramapo because his vehicle matched the description of one involved in an attempted homicide at about 1 p.m. on Hudson Avenue in Albany.

Tillery immediately fired on Troopers Steven Missale and Ronald Raymond after getting out of the car, State Police said. The two troopers immediately returned fire at Tillery, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Both troopers were transported to Westchester Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and later released. State Police would not comment on the nature of their injuries, but said they were not struck by gunfire.

SOURCE = News Channel 13 – MSNBC

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AG’s office opens investigation into I-87 shootout

Janaury 4th 2024

NEW YORK, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation is launching an investigation into the civilian death on I-87 on Wednesday. The civilian, Rakim A. Tillery, 35, was involved in a shooting on Hudson Avenue in Albany earlier in the day. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! According to Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins, Tillery shot a victim in Albany at around 1 p.m. He then fled the scene, driving southbound on I-87.

State Police were notified and located the vehicle on the highway in Ramapo. Tillery fired a gun at the troopers, who returned fire. Tillery was struck and killed. A gun was recovered at the scene. The OSI is required to assess all incidents where a law enforcement officer may have caused the death of a person.

SOURCE = ABC News