The Office of Special Investigation (OSI) announced Tuesday that it has concluded its investigation into Louther's death, determining that "a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officers' use of deadly physical force was justified under the law." The 31-year-old man died on May 13, 2025, following the confrontation with New York City Police Department officers responding to a 911 call.
According to the OSI's findings, officers encountered Louther in a Brooklyn apartment hallway holding a large knife after responding to a domestic dispute call. Louther advanced toward the officers with the weapon and told them "you're gonna have to put a bullet in me," the investigation found. When one officer deployed a Taser, Louther pulled the prongs from his body and continued advancing, prompting a second officer to fire his gun.
The incident was captured on officers' body-worn cameras, and investigators recovered a knife at the scene. Louther was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The OSI noted that the use of force occurred despite officers' initial attempt to subdue Louther with non-lethal means.
The investigation falls under New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, which requires OSI to assess every incident where a police officer may have caused a person's death. The law covers both on-duty and off-duty officers and applies regardless of whether the deceased was armed, in custody, or incarcerated at the time of the incident.
OSI issues a Notification of Investigative Findings when "the evidence and legal analysis are clear and the investigation is complete," allowing the office to announce its conclusion before releasing the full Investigation Report required by law. The final report in Louther's case will be issued at a later date.
The decision not to pursue criminal charges reflects the legal standard that deadly force by police officers is justified when they reasonably believe it necessary to defend themselves or others from imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury. The case adds to ongoing scrutiny of police use of force policies and the challenges facing law enforcement when responding to mental health crises.