A New York State Police investigation has provided new details in the officer-involved shooting that led to the death of a former Shenendehowa teacher. Brian Skinner's death has been deemed "suicide by cop."
During a news conference today to discuss the state police findings, Schenectady County D.A. Robert Carney said that Skinner went great lengths on the night of July 28th to convince 9-1-1 dispatchers that that there was a man coming after him with a gun in his home in Glenville, even screaming as if in alarm at the end of the phone call.
Officers from the Town of Glenville and the Village of Scotia quickly responded to Skinner's home on Pashley Road on that night. Multiple attempts to re-establish contact with him failed. At 11:16 pm, witnesses say Skinner exited the house with a kitchen knife in hand.
Police called on Skinner to drop his weapon, but Skinner was killed after charging at an officer with the knife.
As a result of this investigation, the New York State Police has concluded that the use of deadly physical force against Skinner was "appropriate, justified and in accordance with use of force as authorized by the laws of the state of New York."
Although the use of force was justified, Glenville Police Chief Steve Janik says no one wanted this situation to turn out the way it did, "It's very unfortunate for Mr. Skinner to have had those internal demons to create this situation to have to act the way we did." Janik and Scotia Police Chief Pete Frisoni both said that no officer ever wants to have to use deadly force.
The D.A. says the investigation has confirmed that Skinner had a history of depression and that he had made repeated suicide attempts, including one attempt earlier on the night of the shooting. Carney says at some point on the night of the incident Skinner had placed a hose inside his car's exhaust system and directed it into the car's interior.
Brian Skinner, who was 32 years old, had also recently suffered a small stroke. Authorities say they don't know if or how that affected his decisions on the night of July 28th.
Glenville police officer Benjamin Ferretti is still recovering after being hit by friendly fire during the incident. Today, authorities said no determination has been made on which officer fired the shot. Officer Ferretti will return to active duty in the near future.