City Officials Promise 'Transparent' Process After Police Shooting

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The city's highest ranking officials expressed sadness in the wake of the police shooting of a 37-year-old New Rochelle man on Monday.

In a joint statement from New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson, the City Council, City Council Member Yadira Ramos-Herbert, City Manager Kathleen Gill and Police Commissioner Robert Gazzola, the city officials promised a "transparent and thorough investigation" into the tragedy.

The New Rochelle Police Department released body cam footage of the moments leading up to the July 3, shooting within hours of the tragic incident. Meanwhile, a joint investigation by the New York State Police and the Westchester County DA's Office continues.

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"The City of New Rochelle is deeply saddened by the tragic events of this week, and our thoughts are with the family and friends of Jerrel Garris and with all in our community who have been affected," the statement released on Friday said. "We are fully committed to a transparent, thorough investigation, and will continue to work diligently with outside agencies in their independent review, while also addressing the legitimate concerns and questions that arise whenever a police officer is involved in a shooting."

On Monday, at approximately 4:29 p.m., the New Rochelle Police Department responded to a local grocery store for a larceny complaint resulting in an officer-involved shooting, according to the New York State Police who are investigating the police shooting.

Responding officers confronted Jerrel Garris, age 37, for allegedly stealing items from a local grocery store, according to the NYSP. Officers Kari Bird, Gabrielle Chavarry, and Detective Steven Conn of the New Rochelle Police Department approached Garris and while attempting to arrest him, Detective Conn fired one round from his department-issued firearm subsequently striking Garris, the NYSP said in a statement.

While officers were placing Garris under arrest, he physically resisted, according to New Rochelle police. The department said in a statement released late Tuesday evening that Garris then grabbed an officer's gun and attempted to remove the weapon from the holster. Body cam footage, released by the NRPD, appears to back up the assertion.

The body cam footage shows Garris apparently ignoring attempts by police to talk to him, initially walking away from officers. When officers tried to place him under arrest, a scuffle ensued. One officer can be heard calling for the use of a taser, but moments later, a male police officer can be heard shouting, "He's got a gun. He's got a gun."

No additional rounds were fired, according to state police.

The New York State Police and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office continue to investigate the shooting.