Attorney General James’ Office of Special Investigation Releases Report on Death of Damon Louther

November 10, 2026

NEW YORK - New York Attorney General Letitia James' Office of Special Investigation (OSI) today released its report on the death of Damon Louther, who died on May 13, 2025 following an encounter with members of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in Brooklyn. After a thorough investigation, which included interviews with involved officers, reviews of footage from body-worn cameras and a security camera, recorded interviews with civilian witnesses, a recorded 911 call and police radio transmission, and comprehensive legal analysis, OSI determined that a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officer's actions were justified under New York law.

Shortly before 3 p.m. on May 13, NYPD officers responded to an apartment in Brooklyn after receiving a 911 call from an individual reporting a domestic dispute involving Mr. Louther. When officers arrived, they briefly spoke to the 911 caller outside of the building and learned that Mr. Louther had entered the apartment without being invited. Officers then entered the 911 caller's apartment.

Upon entering, officers encountered Mr. Louther in the hallway of the apartment. Mr. Louther walked toward the officers, reached into his front waistband, and pulled out a large knife. The officers attempted to back away as Mr. Louther advanced, and one officer deployed his Taser, striking Mr. Louther. Mr. Louther pulled the Taser prongs from his body and continued advancing toward the officers. The second officer fired his service weapon, striking Mr. Louther. Mr. Louther was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Officers recovered a knife at the scene.

Under New York's justification law, a person may use deadly physical force when the person reasonably believes it to be necessary to defend against the use of deadly physical force by another. In this case, officers responded to a 911 call reporting a domestic dispute involving Mr. Louther. When officers encountered Mr. Louther, he advanced toward them while holding a knife, and when one officer deployed his Taser, it was ineffective and did not stop Mr. Louther from continuing to approach officers with the knife. Under these circumstances, given the law and the evidence, a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officer's use of deadly physical force against Mr. Louther was justified, and therefore OSI determined that criminal charges would not be pursued in this matter.