Body-Cam Images Show Moments Before Police Shooting That Killed Teen

WOODBURY, NY — New York's top law enforcement official has concluded the investigation into a police shooting in Orange County just over two years ago.

New York Attorney General Letitia James' Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has released its report on the death of Ali Ali, who died on Sept. 18, 2024 following an encounter with members of the New York State Police in Woodbury.

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"After a thorough investigation, which included review of witness statements, footage from security cameras and officers' body-worn cameras (BWC), NYSP radio dispatch logs and incident logs, and comprehensive legal analysis, OSI determined that a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the trooper's actions were justified under New York law," the report concluded

The shooting unfolded hours after NYSP received information that Ali was wanted in New York City in connection with an assault two days prior, and a separate knife-point robbery of a vehicle during the early morning hours that morning.

OnStar had alerted NYSP that Ali was traveling north on the New York State Thruway in a 2021 Chevy Equinox that had been stolen approximately four hours earlier. At 5:45 a.m., a NYSP trooper spotted the stolen vehicle on the Thruway, near the town of Ramapo in Rockland County, and followed the vehicle.

OnStar remotely disabled the car near mile marker 49 in Woodbury. At 5:49 a.m., as the disabled stolen vehicle slowed down, it collided with a tractor-trailer, struck a guardrail, and caught fire, investigators said. Ali fled from the car on foot into a heavily wooded area adjacent to the highway, according to the account.

Shortly after 10 a.m., a NYSP Special Operation Response Team (SORT) began a grid search of the woods, looking for Ali. At 1:47 p.m., SORT members saw Ali in the woods, holding a knife, and followed from a distance, instructing Ali to stop moving, according to the findings.

At 1:49 p.m., Ali stopped and turned to face the troopers, who ordered Ali to drop the knife several times, according to the account. Ali did not drop the knife and turned away from troopers, continuing to walk through the wooded area, investigators said.

Troopers continued to follow Ali and deployed flashbangs.

"We can resolve this peacefully, just stop, we really don't want to hurt you, just stop man," one trooper said attempting to talk the suspect into surrendering peacefully. "Ali please just stop man we don't have to do this."

At 1:51 p.m., one trooper deployed a Taser, causing Ali to briefly fall to the ground, but Ali quickly got up and walked toward the trooper holding the knife in his hand and ignored repeated orders to stop, according to investigators. Another trooper discharged his service weapon, striking Ali.

Ali was declared dead at the scene. Troopers recovered a knife at the scene.