New York Attorney General Letitia James has made public body-worn camera footage related to the death of Donnell Hogan. The footage is part of an ongoing investigation by the Office of Special Investigation (OSI) into Hogan’s death, which occurred on May 13, 2025, after an encounter with Syracuse Police Department officers.
The release of this footage follows Attorney General James’ directive to make such evidence public in order to enhance transparency and foster trust. The incident took place when Syracuse police responded to reports of gunfire inside and outside an apartment building on North Townsend Street. Officers encountered Hogan, who was in a wheelchair and armed. He reportedly fired at the officers, prompting one officer to return fire with a patrol rifle, hitting Hogan. Hogan later died at a hospital.
According to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI evaluates incidents where law enforcement actions may have led to a person’s death. This includes cases involving both armed and unarmed individuals, whether or not they are in custody. If initial assessments suggest that an officer might have caused a death, OSI conducts a thorough investigation.
The footage release does not imply any judgment regarding the guilt or innocence of those involved or any potential criminal charges.
A warning accompanies the video due to its potentially disturbing content.
