Ny AG Probes Officer-Involved Fatal Shooting Of Stabbing Suspect On Long Island

NEW YORK, NY — The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation, which was conducting a preliminary assessment, has opened an investigation into the death of Emilson Joan Ordoñez-Banegas, who died after an officer-involved shooting on Long Island on Sunday, Letitia James' office said Monday.

A previous story lists Banegas' name as Emilson Yoan Ordonez-Vanegas, however, a spokesperson for the AG's office says the Suffolk County Medical Examiner has updated his name to Emilson Joan Ordonez-Banegas.

Shortly after 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, Suffolk police officers responded to a 911 call reporting an assault with a knife behind retail stores in Centereach, and when they got to the scene, they encountered a 44-year-old man with lacerations to his hand and neck, authorities said.

While emergency medical technicians rendered aid to the man, Ordoñez-Banegas "advanced toward" the stabbed man with what appeared to be a knife in his hand, and one officer discharged his service weapon, striking Ordoñez-Banegas, and he was taken to Stony Brook Hospital Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, according to authorities.

Police previously said he had been holding the knife over his head in the attack.

Officers recovered a knife at the scene, James' office said.

Suffolk police declined comment.

Pursuant to the state's Executive Law Section 70-b, the 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 James' office.

Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed, and the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated, James' office said.

If OSI’s assessment indicates an officer may have caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident, according to James' office.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the OSI must either present evidence to a grand jury to seek an indictment, or issue a public report detailing the investigation and its results and explaining why the OSI did not present evidence to a grand jury, James' office said.

The OSI must also issue an Investigation Report if it presents evidence to a grand jury and the grand jury does not return an indictment, her office said.

These are preliminary facts and subject to change.

The 44-year-old man who was taken to a local hospital, as well as two officers for treatment of tinnitus, according to a police spokesperson.