Body-Cam Footage From Fatal Police Shooting Of Sword-Wielding Man Released By AG

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

New York Attorney General Letitia James released body-worn camera footage this week as part of her office's ongoing investigation into the death of Brian Czornyj, who died on June 5, after an encounter with members of the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department.

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: Officer Fatally Shoots Sword-Wielding Man After He Attacked Crisis Team: Police

On the afternoon of June 5, Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department officers responded to a house in Poughkeepsie after receiving a 911 call about an assault with a sword.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found two men standing side by side, both holding a single sword. The younger man, Czornyj, appeared to be uninjured and held the sword by its handle, while the older man, who appeared to be injured, held the sword by the blade.

Officers repeatedly gave commands to drop the sword, but the men did not drop the sword. An officer then discharged his service weapon, striking Czornyj.

He was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The older man was treated and released that night.

Officers recovered a Samurai sword at the scene.

Warning: The video 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."