Shooting sparks more city tension

Leaders call for calm after man is shot by police

By Lina Wu
Posted 4/1/20

Newburgh’s streets were lined with flames, anger, and pain last Friday night. Hours before the chaotic scene a man had been shot and killed by the City of Newburgh Police. As a result of the …

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Shooting sparks more city tension

Leaders call for calm after man is shot by police

Posted

Newburgh’s streets were lined with flames, anger, and pain last Friday night. Hours before the chaotic scene a man had been shot and killed by the City of Newburgh Police. As a result of the fatal shooting, a police officer was shot in the shoulder.

According to a police press release from last Friday, at 5:01 p.m., officers approached 26-year-old Tyrell Fincher, who had been wanted for questioning in relation to a shooting incident that happened last Thursday in the area of Benkard Avenue and William Street. Friday’s incident took place in the area of 40 William Street.

When officers approached Fincher, he displayed a silver handgun. A struggle ensued and the weapon discharged and multiple officers returned fire.

According to an updated press release from last Saturday, One officer had been struck in the head and shot in the shoulder. He was taken to the hospital and treated for the gunshot wound, and head injuries. The officer is in stable condition and is expected to recover. The press release said that officers attempted CPR on Fincher. After transport to Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital, Fincher was pronounced dead.

The reaction from the city’s community on Friday was explosive. At 6:45 p.m., Councilman Omari Shakur posted a Facebook live video.

Councilman Shakur, in a Facebook video, claimed he was denied admission to a press conference following the incident.

“… so it looks like they are trying to cover this up,” Shakur said on the video, “so I’m just letting the community know I’m trying to go into the press conference but they refuse to let me in. ‘City councilman Shakur’ they said, ‘you cannot come in,’ so it looks like a coverup going on in your community.”

In a later video, Shakur demanded to see the full body cam video.

“A young man was killed in the City of Newburgh, everybody in Newburgh should be saying something right now, an unarmed black man killed in Newburgh, see if you see this video tomorrow, you seen the video of me, see if you see this video tomorrow,” said Shakur, who has had a history of confrontation with the City of Newburgh Police. “Y’all should be calling your Mayor, your City council people, call your Governor. These are killers in our community, these are killers, like I said, you seen a video about me, see if you see this video and demand to see the video. Peace.”

Throughout the night, Shakur made multiple posts demanding the release of the bodycam footage. Later in the night, fires broke out in the city. Objects were thrown at officers, and words were exchanged. Despite a public emphasis on social distancing because of the novel coronavirus [COVID-19] outbreak, a large crowd of people still gathered to express their feelings over the incident.

Shakur posted a live video from the scene at 11:43 p.m.

“Our children,” said Shakur. “They out here hurting, but I’m the only one out here talking to them.”

Throughout Friday night, members of the Orange County District Attorney [DA]’s office, City of Newburgh Police, and the state police investigated the case. After midnight, Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus arrived in the City of Newburgh.

Mayor Torrance Harvey, City Manager Joe Donat, and members of the Orange County Sheriff’s office and City of Newburgh Police Department were also on the scene. The City of Newburgh Fire Department put out the fires with the support of the sheriff’s office.

Harvey also made a Facebook post announcing that the Orange County Swat Team had arrived and pleaded for people to go home.

According to a Facebook post made by Sen. James Skoufis last Saturday, the hospital was placed on emergency lockdown.

In last Saturday’s press release, the images from the bodycam footage were released. In the afternoon, the Orange County DA David Hoovler held a press conference regarding the situation. Also speaking at the press conference were City of Newburgh Police Chief Doug Solomon, Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois, Harvey, and Neuhaus.

City Council members Karen Mejia, Anthony Grice, and Ramona Monteverde attended the conference too. Donat also attended the conference.

“The reason we’re having this press conference this afternoon is to basically clear up some misconceptions,” said Hoovler. Since Friday’s incident, social media has been swarmed with divided comments. Hoovler said normally, facts aren’t revealed to the public as quickly.

“We don’t want any more loss of life, and we don’t want any more property damage.”

Although Hoovler did not name Shakur, he said the information placed on social media by a city councilman was not true.

“In doing so, they basically tried to entice and change the narrative of what happened in this incident to basically drive public opinion in the City of Newburgh,” said Hoovler. Since Friday’s incident, Shakur’s Facebook has been swamped with comments of support and disdain.

Hoovler released some of the bodycam footage without audio during the press conference. Normally footage is released at the end of an investigation. He said that after consulting with Harvey, the decision was made to release the footage and the images.

The release of the pieces of media was done to “build trust”, emphasize “transparency”, and maintain public safety. In the footage, Fincher is seen struggling with officers while holding a handgun. At one point, Fincher is seen lifting the gun and hitting one officer’s head. Another officer runs towards the scene with his gun out. Hoovler emphasized the images and footage were not altered or Photoshopped at all.

The case is under investigation by Hoovler’s office, the New York State Attorney General, and the New York State Police. The City of Newburgh police will not be involved in the investigation.

Two parallel investigations of police conduct will be conducted. One investigation will be in front of the Orange County Grand Jury. The other investigation will be within Hoovler’s office. At the end of the investigation, Hoovler will make public a report of his office’s findings, and all evidence. The investigation will take three to five months.

“While this was taking place,” said Harvey, “we in the City of Newburgh had established a state of emergency because of our healthcare crisis which is ongoing with COVID-19.”

“We need peace in our streets,” pleaded Harvey. “We need calm in our community.” He emphasized that all the facts do need to come out with full transparency. He said there will be grief counseling available for community members.

“Our main priority is keeping the community calm,” said Grice after the press conference. “Keeping our residents safe.”

On Saturday night, the City of Newburgh released a statement.

“We may feel fractured right now, but we are still a community” said the statement.
Tiombe Tallie Carter, of the Black History Committee of the Hudson Valley also sent out an email on Saturday night. The email expressed sorrow for the Fincher family.

“It is not our wish that any further hurt and harm come to our community,” wrote Carter. “Please help us to keep the calm by staying inside.” The email pleaded for the community to continue to observe COVID-19 guidelines.

“No one should be taking to the streets!”

Regardless of COVID-19 guidelines, this past Sunday a group of city residents holding signs marched down Broadway to the police department. At the police department a brief confrontation ensued between Solomon, police officers, and residents. Residents questioned actions by the police and alleged racial biases.

Prior to the march, Shakur made a Facebook post advertising it.

Historically, the police department and community have felt a divide due to allegations of police brutality, corruption, and more. In recent years, the police have struggled to mend the divide and reduce crime. Yet, this incident has merely caused a larger divide in a time where unity is needed more than ever.