New York State Attorney General Letitia James' Office of Special Investigation has released a report concerning the death of Pedro Felix, who died on July 4, 2024, in an incident involving the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in Queens. According to the findings, a prosecutor would be unlikely to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officer's actions were justified under New York law.
On the evening in question, NYPD officers went to an apartment in Queens to respond to a reported assault involving a knife. Upon arrival, officers found Mr. Felix in a struggle with another man, holding a knife. Despite repeated orders to drop the weapon, Mr. Felix did not comply, and an officer shot him. Mr. Felix was later pronounced dead at a hospital, and two knives were recovered at the scene.
The situation also involved an 8-year-old child found with stab wounds in the apartment. The child was taken to a hospital but succumbed to the injuries. Two other witnesses were treated for stab wounds and subsequently released.
The report outlines that under New York’s justification law, police are allowed to use deadly force when they reasonably think it’s necessary to counter a threat of deadly force. Officers had been informed by bystanders of a bleeding woman before encountering Mr. Felix with the knife, threatening another man. The evidence and legal standards meant that criminal charges would not be pursued against the officer involved, as OSI concluded the use of deadly force was justified.