Christopher Ferguson Death Ruled Justified Force, New York NY, 2024

New York – In a grim twist to the Christopher Ferguson case, the Office of Special Investigation (OSI) under Attorney General Letitia James has announced findings that suggest NYPD officers’ use of deadly force was justified. The incident, which took place on December 5, 2024, led to Ferguson’s death following an encounter with police in Brooklyn.

The OSI concluded that a prosecutor could not disprove beyond a reasonable doubt that the deadly physical force used by the officers was lawful. A final report is expected at a later date.

Details of the incident reveal that NYPD received a ShotSpotter alert for a possible shooting around 3 p.m. The officers, responding to the scene, encountered a witness who provided them with information about the suspect vehicle. The driver, Ferguson’s friend, was pursued and eventually stopped in traffic. Ferguson, seated in the front passenger seat, exited the car and pointed a firearm at officers, prompting two of them to fire their weapons.

Although no injuries were reported for the child in the back seat, the driver suffered gunshots and other minor injuries. She has been indicted on charges of Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree and related counts by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office.

The incident was captured on police body-worn cameras and dashboard cameras, providing evidence for OSI’s assessment. Under New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI reviewed every reported incident where an officer may have caused death, resulting in a full investigation of this case.

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