A tragic incident in Albany, New York, occurred when a gunman wounded a police officer in the leg after a car chase. The gunman, identified as Amiel Layeni, ultimately shot himself to death in an apparent suicide. Initial reports had suggested that Layeni was killed by the police officer’s returning fire, but autopsy results revealed the self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The video footage from Officer Jonathan Damphier’s body-worn camera captured the moment when Layeni emerged from behind a car and shot the officer before turning the gun on himself.
Police Chief Eric Hawkins clarified at a news conference that Layeni’s cause of death was self-inflicted, contradicting previous statements that suggested he was killed by the officer. The footage released by police only showed the initial moments of the encounter, omitting the subsequent gunfire. Officer Damphier underwent surgery for his leg wound at Albany Medical Center and is expected to recover. The investigation revealed that more than 10 shell casings were recovered from the scene, indicating a significant exchange of gunfire.
Authorities discovered two illegally possessed 9-millimeter handguns at the shooting scene and a ghost gun at Layeni’s residence during a search warrant. The incident will be internally reviewed by the police department, with additional investigations conducted by the state attorney general and the Albany Community Police Review Board. Chief Hawkins commended Officer Damphier for his actions during the ambush, stating that he followed protocol effectively. This shooting marks the first time an Albany police officer has been struck by gunfire in over two decades.
Mayor Kathy Sheehan expressed shock over the incident, emphasizing that the city has not had an officer struck by gunfire in twenty years. The community is grappling with this tragic event as they come to terms with the rare occurrence of violence against law enforcement. Chief Hawkins maintained that the officer did everything correctly when faced with the unexpected ambush, highlighting the dangers that police officers face while carrying out their duties. The city of Albany is working to support both the injured officer and the broader law enforcement community in the wake of this incident.
