SARATOGA COUNTY, NY - On Thursday morning, April 10th, a 37-year-old man was fatally shot by law enforcement after a standoff in an apartment complex in Malta, marking the second fatal officer-involved shooting in the Saratoga County town in less than 24 hours.
According to CBS6, the New York State Police said that troopers and Saratoga County sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a physical domestic dispute around 8:53 a.m. at Building 2 of the Ellsworth Commons Apartments. Officers arrived just after 9:00 a.m., and found the man involved, Brandon R. Moore barricaded inside his apartment, refusing to cooperate.
During a press briefing, Major Christopher Gilroy, Troop G Commander with the New York State Police said, "At approximately 10:37 a.m., while law enforcement personnel were attempting negotiations, Mr. Moore exited the apartment with what appeared to be a handgun. Law enforcement members instructed Mr. Moore to drop the firearm. Mr. Moore refused to follow multiple commands and aimed the weapon at state police members and deputies. At that time, the troopers and deputies fired their department-issued firearms fatally striking him."
Investigators later determined that the weapon Moore was holding was a CO2-powered BB pistol, which was loaded at the time. During the incident, two state troopers suffered minor injuries and were later released from the hospital. Police said that what led to those injuries remains under investigation.
The victim involved in the domestic violence call that prompted police response suffered a non-life-threatening injury prior to troopers arriving on scene. This shooting comes just a day after a separate officer-involved shooting occurred roughly half a mile away at the New York State Police barracks, where a gunman identified as 69-year-old David Levine, arrived armed with a rifle and opened fire in the parking lot. Troopers returned fire, killing him.
Major Gilroy said, "Troopers instructed Mr. Levine to drop the firearm. Mr. Levine refused to follow multiple commands and aimed the gun in the direction of the troopers at which time the troopers fired their department-issued firearms fatally striking him." State police reported that Levine had fired several shots before officers responded. The gunfire was initially mistaken for a car backfiring by local businesses.
The incident that took place on Thursday at the Ellsworth Apartment Complex was further complicated by the activation of the building's sprinkler system, which caused flooding in an unknown number of units. Authorities said the building is currently uninhabitable and that flooding mitigation efforts are underway.
Police said all 75 units were evacuated and residents said they were told it could be five days before they're able to return home. Authorities said there is no known connection between the two officer-involved shooting incidents, but the back-to-back shootings have left many in the community on edge.
Alexandra Berene, a resident of Building 2t Ellsworth Commons said, "I was working. I work remotely and all of a sudden I heard shots fired. I stayed in my apartment. I wasn't sure where they were coming from. In about two minutes after that, the fire alarm went off and I realized this is serious, they want us out of the building."
