Yonkers Taser Death: Attorney General Opens Formal Probe
The state's Office of Special Investigation upgraded its review of Sean Daniel's death after receiving new details about the April 7 incident.
By Naomi Tesfaye ·
The New York Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation has moved from a preliminary review to a formal inquiry into the death of Sean Daniel. The escalation occurred after investigators received new information regarding the April 7 incident in Yonkers, where police used tasers during an encounter with the suspect.
Officers responded to a 911 call at a building on Bruce Avenue at 7:19 p.m. on the day of the incident. Upon arrival, the department says they observed Daniel assaulting another person. Two officers deployed their tasers, and four others attempted to restrain him. Daniel lost consciousness at the scene and was transported to a local hospital, where medical staff pronounced him dead.
Letitia James, the New York Attorney General, confirmed the change in status. The Office of Special Investigation was previously conducting a preliminary assessment of the matter. The law mandates this agency evaluate every reported incident where a peace officer, whether on or off duty, may have caused a death through an act or omission. The statute does not distinguish based on whether the decedent was armed, in custody, or incarcerated.
If the assessment indicates an officer may have caused the death, the agency must conduct a full investigation. The office is now fulfilling that requirement for Daniel's case. The initial police account remains the basis for the timeline, citing the assault as the trigger for the use of force.
