Orange County DA: Newburgh officer was shot during deadly fight with armed suspect

The Orange County Districty Attorney has confirmed that a police officer was shot during an altercation that resulted in the death of an armed suspect.

News 12 Staff

Mar 28, 2020, 12:06 PM

Updated 1,659 days ago

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The Orange County District Attorney has confirmed that a police officer was shot during an altercation that resulted in the death of an armed suspect.
Officials say the incident started Friday at around 5 p.m. in the vicinity of William Street. Police say he was wanted in connection to a prior shooting.
Investigators say a review of street cameras and police body camera footage shows officers approach the man who then displayed a silver handgun and started fighting with the officials.
They say the suspect hit one officer in the head with the handgun during the encounter and also discharged the weapon. Police say they returned fire after the suspect discharged the weapon.
One Newburgh officer was taken to the hospital and treated for a gunshot wound to the arm and injuries to the head. Officials expected him to be released Saturday.
The armed suspect was taken to St. Luke's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
In a statement, Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler says, "Normally in an investigation of this type of incident we would not be releasing images this early in the investigation, However, to allay community concerns, which quite frankly have been stoked by misinformation coming from a city official, we are releasing these images showing the armed man discharging his gun."
Officials have not confirmed who the city official was. Councilman Omari Shakur posted a video on his Facebook page, showing people protesting.
The Orange County District Attorney's Office is leading the investigation with help from state police pending grand jury. The district attorney says the body camera footage will be released after the investigation.