Knifeman Killed by Trooper: No Charges Filed

UNADILLA, NY – A New York State Trooper shot and killed Mark Beilby, Jr., 30, after Beilby allegedly attacked the officer with kitchen knives during a welfare check in Unadilla, Otsego County, on December 22, 2021. New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) released a report today concluding that no criminal charges will be filed against the trooper involved.

The incident began with a 911 call reporting a suicidal individual. Upon entering Beilby’s apartment, the trooper found him holding a knife to his chest in the kitchen. According to the OSI report, the trooper attempted to de-escalate the situation and persuade Beilby to drop the weapon. Instead, Beilby reportedly threw two kitchen knives at the officer, prompting the trooper to open fire.

Beilby was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Investigators recovered the two knives used in the attack at the scene. The OSI’s investigation involved a deep dive into body-worn camera footage, legal analysis, and interviews with the responding officer, trainers at the NYSP Academy, and a use of force expert. Despite the scrutiny, the report states a prosecutor would be unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the trooper’s actions weren’t justified under New York law.

“Under New York’s justification law, a police officer may use deadly physical force when the officer reasonably believes it to be necessary to defend against the use of deadly physical force by another,” the report reads. Given that Beilby allegedly threw knives at the trooper, OSI determined that pursuing criminal charges would be untenable. The report doesn’t detail if Beilby made any verbal threats beyond refusing to drop the knife.

While clearing the trooper of criminal wrongdoing, the OSI report did offer a critique of current NYSP training protocols. Investigators concluded that officers would benefit from more robust scenario-based de-escalation training, specifically addressing encounters with individuals wielding non-firearm weapons like knives. The report suggests better training could potentially minimize the need for deadly force in similar situations, though it doesn’t indicate such training would have changed the outcome of this particular incident.

The OSI report, released June 18, 2025, closes the case, leaving a trail of unanswered questions about the mental state of Mark Beilby, Jr. and the circumstances leading up to the fatal confrontation. Grimy Times will continue to follow developments related to police use of force incidents across the state and the ongoing debate surrounding officer accountability.

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