Officer’s Use of Deadly Force in Centereach Death Scrutinized

New York – A chilling chapter in the city’s law enforcement history unfolded yesterday as the Office of Special Investigation (OSI) under Attorney General Letitia James released a Notification of Investigative Findings on the tragic death of Emilson Joan Ordoñez-Banegas, who met his demise on July 13 following an encounter with Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) officers.

The OSI concluded that a prosecutor would be unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officer’s use of deadly physical force was not justified. A final Investigation Report is anticipated to follow in due course.

Ordoñez-Banegas’ death, witnessed by EMTs and SCPD personnel, began with an early morning 911 call reporting a knife assault behind a Centereach deli. The scene quickly escalated when Ordoñez-Banegas emerged from nearby woods, armed with a knife, and attempted to stab the injured victim. An officer discharged his service weapon, resulting in the fatal shooting.

Footage from officers’ body-worn cameras captures the harrowing events of that morning, leaving little room for ambiguity regarding the use of force. The recovered knife at the scene provided further context to the situation.

Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI meticulously assesses each police-related death and determines if an investigation is necessary. In this instance, their thorough probe led to today’s Notification of Investigative Findings.

OSI stressed that the Notification does not preclude a subsequent civil lawsuit and noted that they are committed to transparency in all their investigations. The public will be provided with a complete final report once it is finalized.

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