The Office of Special Investigation (OSI) issued a Notification of Investigative Findings on April 14, announcing the conclusion of its inquiry into the death of Bacchus, who died following an encounter with police in Brooklyn on October 5, 2025.
The incident began at approximately 9:11 a.m. when NYPD officers responded to a 911 call at a residence on East 86th Street in Brooklyn. Upon arrival, officers encountered Bacchus exiting the building and pursued him on foot to Coventry Road.
According to the investigation, Bacchus stopped running while holding a gun. Officers repeatedly commanded him to drop the weapon, and he responded, “Shoot me,” while continuing to hold the gun. One officer then discharged his service weapon, striking Bacchus.
Bacchus was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Officers recovered a gun and bullets at the scene. The incident was captured on the officer’s body-worn camera, and OSI included still frames from the footage showing Bacchus holding a gun as part of their investigative materials.
Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI assesses every incident where a police officer or peace officer may have caused a person’s death by act or omission. The statute applies regardless of whether the officer was on or off-duty and whether the deceased was armed, unarmed, in custody, or incarcerated.
OSI indicated that in cases where the evidence and legal analysis are clear and the investigation is complete, the office may issue a notification of investigative findings announcing the conclusion of the investigation. A final investigation report, as required by law, will be issued at a later date providing additional details of the incident and the agency’s analysis.
The clearing of the officers represents the conclusion of the criminal investigation phase, though the incident may still be subject to internal NYPD review and potential civil litigation by Bacchus’ family.