New York Attorney General Letitia James has published body-worn camera videos and security camera footage related to the death of Emil Williams. Williams died on February 18, 2025, after an encounter with New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers in Queens.
According to reports, Williams approached the 111th Precinct with a firearm in his possession. Despite repeated instructions from officers to drop the weapon, he did not comply. As a result, four officers discharged their weapons, hitting Williams. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, and a firearm was recovered from the scene.
The Office of Special Investigation (OSI) from the Attorney General’s Office has released the videos taken from officers’ body-worn cameras and a precinct surveillance camera as part of the investigation. Attorney General James has emphasized that the release of these videos is in line with a policy to enhance transparency and build public confidence during investigations of this nature.
Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI reviews each incident involving police officers or peace officers, including corrections officers, implicated in the death of an individual. This covers situations where the officer was either on-duty or off-duty and whether the person involved was armed or unarmed, in custody or not. If the OSI determines a possible connection between an officer's actions and a person's death, a comprehensive investigation is launched.
The footage release is not intended to indicate any stance on the culpability of any involved parties in a criminal context nor does it suggest how or whether any individual will face charges.
It is noted that the videos contain potentially disturbing content.