BUFFALO, N.Y. — Two Buffalo Police officers who shot and killed a man earlier this year will not face criminal charges.
The New York State Attorney General's Office of Special Investigations (OSI) has finished their investigation into the death of a man by Buffalo Police officers earlier this year on Reed Street.
Edward Holmes died on February 24, 21024 following an encounter with Buffalo Police. Officers were called to a report of a man with a shotgun on Reed Street in Buffalo. When they arrived, they instructed Holmes repeatedly to put down his gun. Bodycam footage shows Holmes did not comply and fired his weapon. When officers saw the gun pointed in their direction, they fired several shots, striking Holmes. He died at the scene.
The investigation found the officers were justified in the shooting.
Under New York's justification law, "The use of deadly physical force is justified under this law when the officer reasonably believes it to be necessary to defend themselves or another person from deadly physical force." Investigators say the officers were justified because Holmes was holding a shotgun in public, fired it, and pointed it at officers, putting the officers and nearby residents in danger.
Here is the body cam footage from the incident. WARNING: The contents may be disturbing to some.
