New York Attorney General Letitia James' Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has released a report on the death of Rakim Tillery, who died following an encounter with New York State Police (NYSP) in Ramapo, Rockland County on January 3, 2024. The investigation involved witness interviews, review of camera footage, and legal analysis. OSI concluded that it would be difficult for a prosecutor to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers’ actions were justified under New York law.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:53 p.m. when two NYSP troopers stopped a car on the New York State Thruway after receiving a report about an earlier incident in Albany. Both troopers arrived in separate marked police vehicles with their lights activated. As they exited their vehicles, Rakim Tillery emerged from his car armed with a firearm and discharged his weapon at the troopers. In response, one trooper fired his service weapon, causing Mr. Tillery to fall.
As one trooper approached him, Mr. Tillery got up and struggled with the officer, attempting to seize his gun. The second trooper then discharged his service weapon three times, hitting Mr. Tillery.
According to New York's justification law, police officers are permitted to use deadly force if they reasonably believe it is necessary for self-defense against deadly physical force by another person. Given the circumstances—Mr. Tillery’s involvement in an earlier incident and his actions during the encounter—the OSI determined that criminal charges would not be pursued as it could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers’ use of force was unjustified.