The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has launched a probe into the death of Jesus Alberto Nunez Reyes, 65, who was shot and killed during an encounter with NYPD officers in Corona on Saturday morning.
At approximately 4:09 a.m. on April 20, police officers responded to 39-21 103rd St., where they encountered Nunez Reyes allegedly holding a knife. The officers repeatedly commanded him to drop the knife, but Nunez Reyes did not comply, and an officer fired at him, the AG’s office said in a brief statement. Nunez Reyes was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Officers recovered a knife at the scene.
The AG’s statement made no mention of Nunez Reyes being engaged in a dispute with a woman at the location, nor did it mention that officers deployed their Tasers, sending volts of electricity into Nunez Reyes in an effort to subdue him before the officers discharged their weapons, reportedly firing 5 shots at Nunez Reyes.
Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI assesses every incident reported to it when a police officer or a peace officer, including a correction 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.
The case was also presented to the NYPD Force Investigation Division, which examines all incidents in which police officers use lethal force.
