Police-Involved Fatal Shooting Of Ex-Prison Guard Probed By NY AG

BRENTWOOD, NY — The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation has launched an investigation into the death of Bruce Boyd, the retired New York City Department of Correction officer who was shot and killed by Suffolk police after he charged at them with a knife during a welfare check, the organization announced Tuesday.

On Friday, Suffolk police responded to Boyd's Brentwood home after a family member requested the welfare check. Upon arrival, police said they found Boyd armed with a knife and suffering from multiple self-inflicted wounds.

According to an OSI press release, when officers arrived at the scene, Boyd allegedly approached them with a knife in each hand.

Officers commanded Boyd to drop the knives, but when he didn't comply, an officer fired his gun and struck Boyd, who was pronounced dead at South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, OSI said, adding that these are preliminary facts and subject to change.

The OSI said that pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, the office 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.

According to the OSI, 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 and if OSI’s assessment indicates an officer may have caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident.