Attorney General’s office opens investigation into fatal NYPD shooting in Brooklyn

The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation has launched an investigation into the death of 38-year-old Vilmond Jean-Baptiste, who was fatally shot by New York City Police Department officers in Brooklyn on Sept. 13. 

The incident occurred when the NYPD’s Brooklyn South Warrant Squad entered an apartment in Flatbush to serve a warrant.

According to officials, the squad entered the apartment at 5:21 p.m., where they found Jean-Baptiste hiding in a bathtub. He was reportedly holding a knife, prompting officers to instruct him to drop the weapon. 

Jean-Baptiste allegedly failed to comply and instead approached the officers, leading one officer to discharge a Taser. When the Taser proved ineffective, three officers discharged their service weapons, striking Jean-Baptiste. He was then transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

In a statement, the NYPD confirmed that the officers were serving a bench warrant issued in Kings County in 2022. At a news conference following the shooting, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny identified Jean-Baptiste as a “strong person of interest” in three homicides that occurred over the summer, including the fatal stabbing of a 66-year-old woman and two other fatal stabbings in July. 

It is unclear whether the officers serving the warrant were aware of Jean-Baptiste’s connection to these homicides at the time of the encounter.

The Attorney General’s Office is mandated to investigate such incidents under New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, which requires OSI to assess all cases where a police officer may have caused a civilian’s death. The investigation will examine whether the officers’ actions were in line with proper protocols and if the use of force was justified.

Jean-Baptiste’s death has raised questions about the handling of the encounter and the effectiveness of non-lethal methods, such as Tasers, in high-risk situations. 

During the press conference, NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry explained that the officer’s initial attempt to use a Taser was unsuccessful. As officers prepared to deploy another Taser cartridge, Jean-Baptiste allegedly advanced toward them, resulting in the officers opening fire.

Following the incident, officers reportedly handcuffed Jean-Baptiste and attempted to provide aid before transporting him to a nearby hospital. The lack of immediate body-camera footage or witness accounts to support the NYPD’s description of events has led to public scrutiny. The Attorney General’s investigation will likely focus on the use of force by the officers and the decision-making process leading up to the shooting.