AG James Releases Body-Cam Footage From Fatal Police Shooting

TOWN OF DEERPARK, NY — Body-cam footage of the moments leading up to a fatal police shooting in Orange County have been released by state investigators.

New York Attorney General Letitia James released body-worn camera footage last week as part of her office's ongoing investigation into the death of 69-year-old Nancy Loftus, of Port Jervis, who died on April 12, after an encounter with New York State Police troopers.

The attorney general said that the release of the footage follows her directive that camera footage obtained by her office during an Office of Special Investigation (OSI) investigation be released to the public to increase transparency and strengthen public trust in these types of matters.

SEE ALSO: Police Identify Woman Fatally Shot By Troopers As 69-Year-Old

New York State Police say that around 2:30 a.m. on April 12, troopers from the Greenville barracks responded to reports of a domestic incident involving a knife at Forrest Drive, in the town of Deerpark.

Once at the scene, troopers found an injured man on the front porch who told them that a woman inside was armed with a knife and a firearm. That victim told police that she had stabbed him in the abdomen, according to NYSP.

Soon after, Loftus exited the home and pointed what appeared to be a black handgun at the troopers, according to state police. In a later update, state police said that the handgun was actually a realistic-looking pellet gun.

After troopers repeatedly instructed Loftus to drop the gun and put her hands in the air, troopers discharged their service weapons, striking Loftus, police said.

The troopers then immediately gave Loftus medical aid and called for EMS. She was rushed to Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis, where she was pronounced dead.

The man on the porch sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the domestic incident and was treated by EMS at the scene.

No troopers were injured during the incident.

Warning: The two videos can be viewed here, but may be disturbing for some readers.

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. According to 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 determines an officer may have caused the death, OSI then conducts a full investigation of the incident.

The AG's Office said that the release of the 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."