Body-cam footage has been released showing the moments leading up to the shooting of 17-year-old Oscar Granados Colindres by police in Wappingers Falls, New York. The incident occurred after law enforcement received a report of a person threatening to take their own life on a bridge. Upon arrival, officers found Colindres standing on the ledge of an overpass bridge holding a knife.
The footage captures the final five minutes of a 50-minute conversation between Colindres and one officer, during which the officer spoke to him in Spanish about his family and encouraged him to reconsider his actions. At one point, the officer asked Colindres to close the knife he was holding.
As the interaction progressed, Colindres stepped off the bridge and approached the officer. Shortly thereafter, multiple officers opened fire, resulting in Colindres being struck and falling to the ground. The footage captured at least ten gunshots being fired.
The New York State Attorney General's Office has released the body-cam footage, which has raised questions regarding the police response. Attorneys representing Colindres' family stated that while the release of the footage is a step towards transparency, it does not fully address their concerns about the circumstances leading to the shooting. They expressed that Colindres' mother believes he would still be alive if trained crisis intervention professionals had responded instead of police.
Colindres was a student at Roy C. Ketcham High School and was remembered in his obituary for his love of soccer and interest in classic cars. His family has initiated a GoFundMe campaign for memorial donations.