Hamburg Officer Cleared in Death of Lisa Haight

New York – The grim headlines surrounding the death of Lisa Haight have finally been followed by a resolution, as the Office of Special Investigation (OSI) under New York Attorney General Letitia James has released its findings. The report concludes that a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officer’s actions were justified.

On February 2, 2024, Ms. Haight was in a transportation service van traveling on I-90 with others from Jamestown to Buffalo for health care appointments when tragedy struck. A heated altercation within the vehicle led to Ms. Haight stabbing another passenger before being left on the side of the highway.

Three officers from the Town of Hamburg Police Department (THPD) responded to a call at a nearby house, where they found evidence of an attempted break-in. Unaware of the earlier incident with Ms. Haight, the officers tracked footprints to Ms. Haight, who was found in a bathtub, cutting herself with a steak knife.

In a struggle that ensued, Ms. Haight lunged at an officer with what appeared to be a utility knife, prompting the officer to discharge his weapon, resulting in her death. The investigation revealed the object was actually a flashlight, but its metallic clip could have been mistaken for a blade under the circumstances.

Under New York law, an officer may use deadly physical force when they reasonably believe it is necessary to defend against the use of deadly physical force. In this case, the OSI determined that the officer’s belief was not objectively unreasonable given the evidence. As such, no criminal charges will be pursued in the matter.

At the time of the incident, THPD did not equip its officers with body-worn cameras (BWCs). However, following this investigation, THPD has informed the Office of the Attorney General that all officers are now equipped and trained on the use of BWCs. The OSI continues to advocate for a state bill requiring police departments to equip their officers with BWCs and dashboard cameras.