NY AG Releases Body-Cam Video Of NYSP Shooting In Rockland County

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — New York Attorney General Letitia James today released police body-worn camera footage of the deadly confrontation in Ramapo Jan. 3 between New York State police and a driver they had pulled over on I-87.

The videos were obtained as part of its ongoing investigation into the death of Rakim Tillery, according to the AG's Office.

On the afternoon of Jan. 3, two state 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.

Tillery was the driver.

The videos show a struggle in the road after Tillery got out of the car, and then two distinct gunshots. Tillery fired first, prosecutors said in the news release. Tillery was declared dead at the scene. A gun was recovered, according to the AG's Office.

The videos from body-worn cameras that the two NYSP troopers were equipped with during the incident were released by the Office of Special Investigation of the Attorney General’s Office. The release follows 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.

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.

Warning: This video contains content that viewers may find disturbing.