NYPD Wrongful Death Shooting Lawyer

The New York Police Department is the largest and among the oldest municipal police forces in the country. In 2023, 44 NYPD officers intentionally fired their weapons, resulting in 16 individuals injured and seven killed. According to the NYPD’s annual Use of Force Report, those numbers reflect a 46.2% decrease from 2022.

According to a September 2025 report from the NYC Comptroller’s office, allegations of the NYPD using excessive force increased significantly during the Adams Administration, with complaints submitted to the City’s Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) jumping 50% from 3,700 in 2022 to over 5,500 in 2023, then to more than 5,600 in 2024.

In recent years, police shootings throughout the United States have received significant national attention and raised questions about police department policies and police misconduct. Families impacted by these incidents often face substantial challenges in their quest for justice, including police union protections, qualified immunity defenses, and delayed investigations.

The Law Enforcement Epidemiology Project at the University of Illinois Chicago estimates that 250,000 civilians are injured and more than 600 are killed each year by law enforcement officers across the United States.

Some high-profile police shooting cases in New York City include the following:

• Brian Astarita was fatally shot in November 2021 following a traffic stop that escalated into a vehicle pursuit and confrontation with New York police officers. According to investigation reports, Astarita pointed a BB gun at two officers and refused to drop it before police fired.
• New York City police officer Richard Delahanty was suspended and faced a misdemeanor charge after firing his gun six times at a vehicle that fled from a traffic stop in February 2022. According to investigation reports, the shooting occurred on a crowded street during rush hour, causing bystanders to run for cover and duck for safety. The driver of the fleeing vehicle pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and paid a $200 fine.
• Derell Mickells and two bystanders were injured in a 2024 NYPD shooting in the subway. According to news reports, Derell jumped the fare in the subway and ignored the officer’s commands to stop. The police reportedly opened fire after he brandished a knife and advanced toward one of the officers.
• Akai Gurley, an unarmed Black man, was walking down the stairwell of a public housing development in 2014 when he was struck by a bullet fired by NYPD officer Peter Liang. NPR reported that the bullet ricocheted off a wall and hit Akai in the heart. On the fifth-floor landing, a friend attempted to revive Akai, while Liang passed by without offering any help. A jury found Liang guilty of manslaughter, but the conviction was later reduced to criminally negligent homicide.