Teen Threatens Mom, Kills Self After Standoff: Clarkstown Police

CENTRAL NYACK, NY — A 19-year-old man may have killed himself with an overdose of pills after threatening to kill his mother and then standing off Clarkstown police for more than an hour May 30.

Officers responded to a call about a domestic incident at 60 W. Broadway in Central Nyack at 6:15 p.m. last Tuesday.

They were met by a young man identified as Sean Harris holding a metal baseball bat near the front entrance of his home. They were also met by his mother and a mental health counselor.

Police said the counselor told the officers she was in the house, as she made frequent visits to the home to see Harris. She said that she had tried to communicate with him in the basement but he refused. He then came into the kitchen while she and his mother were talking, started destroying items with a baseball bat, and threatened to kill his mother. At that point the counselor left the house and called police.

The officers told Harris several times to drop the bat, which he refused to do, police said.

An officer attempted to disarm him, police said. Harris was struck by a less lethal impact munition on his abdomen and retreated into the house.

Officers tried to communicate with him while he was inside. At first he refused to engage, though they could see him moving about the house as he walked past windows, police said.

Members of the Clarkstown Police Department Negotiator Team were called in and were
able to start a dialogue. However, Harris made additional threats to officers, saying he was in possession of a Glock 17 handgun.

The Crisis Negotiator Team talked with Harris for more than an hour, but then he stopped communicating, police said.

After numerous unsuccessful attempts to re-establish communication, the Clarkstown
Police Critical Incident Response Team was sent into the house at 9:20 p.m., police said.

They found Harris sitting in the bathroom. Next to him, officers saw about two dozen opened pill bottles containing hundreds of pills, police said.

They removed Harris from the bathroom and began performing CPR. Rockland Medics and ambulance staff entered the home and took over medical care. Harris was transported to Montefiore Nyack Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.

The official cause of death has not been ruled on by the Rockland County Medical Examiner's office at this time, Clarkstown police said.

In accordance with state law, the Clarkstown Police Department contacted the NYS Attorney General's office. An independent investigation will be conducted in addition to the departmental investigation.