The Office of Special Investigation (OSI) announced the probe on April 2, following the fatal shooting that occurred during the early morning hours of March 28 outside a mobile home on Alpine Road in the town of Diana. According to the Attorney General's office, Craighead emerged from the residence armed with a long gun and fired at state troopers who were positioned in an armored vehicle, prompting one trooper to discharge his service weapon and fatally strike Craighead.
The incident began the evening of March 27 when New York State Police troopers responded to the Alpine Road area following a 911 call, though the Attorney General's office did not specify the nature of the emergency call that brought police to the scene. The confrontation escalated during the early morning hours when Craighead exited the mobile home armed and allegedly opened fire on the officers.
Craighead was pronounced dead at the scene, and officers recovered a long gun from the location. The Attorney General's office emphasized that these are preliminary facts and remain subject to change as the investigation proceeds.
Under New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI is required to assess every incident where a police officer or peace officer may have caused a person's death through an act or omission, regardless of whether the officer was on or off duty and whether the decedent was armed or unarmed. The law, which went into effect in 2015, was designed to ensure independent oversight of police-involved fatalities.
If OSI's initial assessment determines that an officer may have caused the death, the office proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident. The investigation can result in recommendations for criminal charges, policy changes, or other remedial measures depending on the findings.
The Lewis County incident represents another case in OSI's ongoing mandate to investigate police-involved deaths across New York State. Since its establishment, the office has investigated hundreds of such cases, with outcomes ranging from criminal prosecutions to recommendations for departmental policy reforms.
The investigation remains ongoing, and OSI has not indicated a timeline for completion of its review of the circumstances surrounding Craighead's death.