New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has released its report on the death of Daniel Legler, who died on August 6, 2023, following an encounter with a New York State Police (NYSP) trooper in Monroe County. The investigation included a review of body-worn camera footage, interviews with the involved trooper and a witness, and comprehensive legal analysis. OSI concluded that it would not be possible to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the trooper’s actions were justified under New York law.
The incident began around 9:24 p.m. on August 6 when a NYSP trooper pursued a vehicle traveling westbound on Interstate 490 in Rochester after the driver, Mr. Legler, refused to comply with an attempted traffic stop. Mr. Legler was driving on the left shoulder of the highway to pass other cars and reached speeds up to or over 100 MPH.
Mr. Legler exited the highway at the Rochester Tech Park exit in Gates, which involves a sharp turn. His vehicle struck a guardrail and then hit a curb near Harek Road and Les Harrison Drive West before becoming airborne and landing in a nearby field. The trooper commanded Mr. Legler to remain in his vehicle, but he did not comply. Once out of the car, Mr. Legler began reaching around his waistband and moved to the other side of the car despite commands from the trooper to show his hands.
The trooper asked Mr. Legler to turn around for arrest but he stumbled backward to the ground leading to a physical struggle as the trooper attempted handcuffing him. During this struggle, the trooper heard a shot fired and saw a gun in Mr. Legler’s hand, prompting him to discharge his service weapon in response.
Despite commands from the trooper for Mr. Legler to remain on the ground, he attempted to stand up again leading to another discharge from the service weapon by the trooper which struck Mr. Legler who was pronounced dead at the scene where officers recovered a gun.
Under New York’s justification law, police officers may use deadly physical force when they reasonably believe it necessary for defense against deadly physical force by another person. In this case, given that evidence showed that Mr. Legler had fired his weapon first and had possession of it during their encounter; OSI determined that criminal charges should not be pursued against said Troopers involved as they acted within legal boundaries set forth under state laws governing justifiable use-of-force situations involving law enforcement personnel operating within their official capacities.