Newly released footage from an officer’s bodycam reveals a critical incident unfolding outside the State Police headquarters in the Capital District. The video sheds light on the final moments of David M. Levine, a 69-year-old from Malta, who was shot dead by State Police following a confrontational scenario.
On the fateful day of April 9 at approximately 1:43 p.m., Levine arrived at the Saratoga Barracks in Malta. A State Police representative highlighted that Levine had fired multiple bullets towards the building; this tragic event was recorded in real-time as it unfolded.
The body cam video, initiated when State Police recognized the imminent danger facing the building, captured the emergence of two officers out of a secluded side exit of the barracks. During these intense moments, one of the officers makes the concerning assessment that the threat is still positioned at the building’s entrance and expresses uncertainty about the appropriate course of action.
The drama continued in the parking area where Levine was holding his position, armed with a lengthy firearm. The officers reactively exited the barracks, immediately communicating with 911 dispatchers a detailed description of damning evidence: an individual standing by a crimson pickup truck, wearing a standard grey shirt coupled with black trousers, and noticeably brandishing a rifle.
A significant observation relayed by one of the officers was that the suspect appeared to be in a prone position. Reacting to his comrade’s report, the other officer strategized to stealthily align himself closer to his patrol vehicle.
In a testament to training and courage, the said officer manoeuvres behind his police car, thereby establishing a protective shield between him and the potential line of fire. Adding to this tactical position, he is seen reaching into the vehicle trunk, from where he procures his service rifle.
The confrontational standoff enters its third minute, whereby the officer, now armed with a rifle, commands Levine to disarm himself. At this point, Levine has regained an upright position and responds to the officer’s order with a chilling, ‘no, shoot me.’
Strategically positioned behind Levine’s truck, the officer maintains his directive for Levine to surrender his weapon and lie flat on the ground. Levine refuses to comply with these instructions, voicing multiple defiant refusals and raising his gun towards an officer.
The situation culminates in a fatal reaction, wherein one of the officers discharges his firearm, resulting in Levine’s death. The video footage documents the officers’ subsequent actions, which involved handcuffing Levine and summoning medical assistance.
Captured footage discloses the motion to transport Levine to a nearby healthcare facility, where his passing was officially reported. The circumstances leading to Levine’s fatal altercation with State Police led to the immediate involvement of the State Attorney General’s Office.
The incident triggered an alert to the State Attorney General’s Office, who promptly arrived at the scene. It is a mandatory legal requirement for the State Attorney General’s Office to intervene and direct an investigation when a law enforcement officer’s actions result in a civilian’s death.