New York Attorney General to probe Suffolk police fatal shooting of man with a knife in Centereach

New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office has launched an investigation into the death of a man who was fatally shot by a Suffolk police officer after he stabbed someone at a Centereach strip mall, officials said on Monday.

Under New York State law, the Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigations is required to conduct a preliminary assessment of situations where police officers, correction officers and other law-enforcement officials may be responsible for a death. If the Office of Special Investigations determines the officer may have caused the death, investigators will then conduct a full investigation.

Suffolk Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina told reporters on Sunday the deceased man, Emilson Yoan Ordonez-Vanegas, 29, might have killed the stabbing victim if the officer didn’t shoot him.

"Had it not been for the officer's quick actions, the victim would have been stabbed with that knife and probably killed," Catalina said.

Suffolk police received a report about a disturbance with a weapon behind the strip mall at 2505 Middle Country Rd., police said, at about 8:38 a.m. on Sunday. The small strip mall houses a deli, restaurant and smoke shop.

The first officer to arrive at the scene found a 44-year-old man who had been stabbed in the neck. Catalina said the officer began to treat the man’s wound while also trying to get a description of the suspect. Additional officers arrived at the scene within five minutes.

Ordonez-Vanegas emerged from the woods and advanced toward the victim when another officer opened fire. Ordonez-Vanegas, who police said was homeless, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The stabbing victim was treated for his injuries at Stony Brook. Police have not released his name.