Report: NYPD Officer’s Deadly Force Against Worthy Justified

New York – The Office of Special Investigation (OSI) under Attorney General Letitia James released its findings on the tragic death of Gary Worthy, a man who met his end in the crossfire of a November 2024 robbery pursuit with the New York City Police Department (NYPD).

After an exhaustive investigation that included reviewing body-worn and security camera footage, interviewing officers and witnesses, and conducting legal analysis, OSI concluded that a prosecutor could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt in court that the officer’s actions were unjustified under state law. Worthy was killed after exchanging gunfire with officers during a chase following reports of a gunpoint robbery at a Queens smoke shop.

On November 19, 2024, as officers responded to multiple emergency calls, one caller pointed out Worthy as the suspect. During the pursuit, Worthy turned and fired at the officers, hitting one in the leg before also striking a bystander. The officer returned fire, ultimately taking Worthy down. Worthy was rushed to the hospital but died from his injuries.

Under New York’s justification law, an officer may use deadly force if they reasonably believe it is necessary to protect against the use of deadly force by another person. OSI determined that the officer’s response was justified under these circumstances. However, OSI also highlighted a concerning gap in training and policy, noting that officers did not render immediate aid to Worthy after he fell to the ground. While OSI acknowledged medical assistance outside a hospital would likely not have saved Worthy’s life, it recommended that all police agencies emphasize the importance of providing aid to any injured person following use of force.

The OSI report also reiterated current NYPD policy, which requires officers to ‘obtain medical attention for any person injured as soon as reasonably possible’ and ‘render reasonable aid to injured persons or request an ambulance or doctor.’ OSI recommended reinforcing this training to ensure that no future incidents result in a failure to provide necessary medical assistance.

As the city grapples with the complexities of law enforcement and public safety, the OSI’s findings on Worthy’s death serve as a stark reminder of the high stakes involved in police encounters and the importance of thorough investigations and clear guidelines for officers in the line of duty.