Final report released on death of Buffalo man fatally shot by police
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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The New York State Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation released its final report Tuesday on the death of a Buffalo man, who was fatally shot by Buffalo police officers in February, and announced that no criminal charges will be pursued.
Edward Holmes, 58, was shot by two officers just after 10 a.m. on Feb. 24 on Reed Street after he discharged one round from a shotgun while he stood in the middle of the street, body camera footage shows.
The OSI’s report found that “a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officers’ actions against Mr. Holmes were justified under New York law.”
The investigation included review of body-worn camera footage, interviews with the officers involved, and comprehensive legal analysis, the OSI said.
Buffalo police officers responded to a 911 call that morning reporting a man armed with a shotgun on Reed Street. The OSI determined the phone used to make the 911 call was Holmes’ phone.
When officers arrived, they saw Holmes in the middle of the street armed with a shotgun.
Officers exited their vehicles and told Holmes to put down his weapon multiple times. The OSI said he did not comply and fired his weapon.
Then the officers, identified by Buffalo police as Joshua Slupinski and Andrew Lewis, shot a total of 20 rounds and hit Holmes twice, once in the left arm and once in the left side of his chest. At the time, Slupinski had been with the Buffalo Police Department for five years and Lewis had been with them for 18 months.
The officers then called out “shots fired” on the radio and requested an ambulance, the OSI said. They provided aid to Holmes and called for an ambulance again, when an ambulance and firetruck then arrived and continued lifesaving efforts.
Holmes was later pronounced dead at 10:35 a.m. at ECMC, according to the report.
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Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.
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