New York DA Clears Buffalo Officer in Fatal OIS

The Erie County District Attorney has found an officer with the Buffalo (NY) Police Department was justified when he shot a fleeing suspect in December 2018.

DA John Flynn said that the subject—who had fled the scene of a reported shoplifting incident—drew a folding knife and refused officers' repeated orders to drop the weapon.

According to WKBW-TV , the knife-wielding suspect—identified as 47-year-old Marcus Neal—charged the responding officers.

According to WBFO Radio , 25-year-old Officer Joseph Meli fired his service weapon, striking Neal twice in the abdomen and once in the buttocks.

Neal was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died of his injuries.