The Office of the New York Attorney General has released body-worn camera footage from an incident that resulted in the death of Brian Czornyj on June 5, 2025. The footage is part of an ongoing investigation by the Office of Special Investigation (OSI) into Czornyj’s death following a police encounter in Dutchess County.
Attorney General Letitia James stated, “The release of this footage follows Attorney General James’ directive that camera footage obtained by her office during an OSI investigation be released to the public to increase transparency and strengthen public trust in these matters.”
On June 5, officers from the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting an assault involving a sword at a residence in Poughkeepsie. Upon arrival, officers found two men holding a single sword: Brian Czornyj, who appeared uninjured and was holding the handle, and an older man who appeared injured and was holding the blade. Officers repeatedly ordered both men to drop the sword. When they did not comply, one officer discharged his weapon, striking Czornyj. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The older man received medical treatment and was released later that night. A Samurai sword was recovered at the scene.
According to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI reviews every case reported where law enforcement may have caused a person’s death through action or omission. This includes cases involving both armed and unarmed individuals as well as those in or out of custody.
The Attorney General’s office emphasized that releasing this video does not reflect any judgment about criminal responsibility or whether anyone will face charges related to this incident.
A warning accompanied the release stating that viewers may find the content disturbing.
