AG: No charges will be filed in fatal Suffolk police shooting of Bruce Boyd in April

The fatal shooting of a Brentwood man who charged at Suffolk police with two knives outside his Wurz Street home in April was justified, New York State Attorney General Letitia James’ office said in a statement Thursday.

James’ office concluded that criminal charges should not be filed against the officers who opened fire on former New York City correction officer Bruce Boyd, who the statement said followed the officers out of his home with a knife in each hand and refused to drop the weapons as he approached police.

"Upon completion of the investigation into Mr. Boyd’s death, OSI [the AG’s Office of Special Investigation] has concluded that a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt that at trial the officers’ use of deadly force was justified under law," James’ office said.

A spokeswoman for the Suffolk County Police Department declined to comment Thursday.

Three Third Precinct officers responded to the home shortly after noon on April 4 after a relative requested a wellness check for Boyd, according to information provided by the AG’s office and Suffolk police. The officers knocked on the door but got no answer.

A neighbor approached the police and put Boyd’s wife, who was at work, on the phone with one of the officers, who explained that they were there to perform a wellness check. The officers waited for Boyd’s wife to return to the house, officials said.

Boyd’s wife arrived and entered the home but fled outside moments later. The officers retreated across the front lawn as Boyd, covered in blood from self-inflicted wounds, emerged from the home with a knife in each hand, officials said. Boyd exited the house, raised the knife in his left hand above his head and ran at one of the officers as they repeatedly called his name and instructed him to drop the weapons.

The officers discharged their service weapons, striking Boyd, officials said. The incident was recorded by the officers’ body-worn cameras.

The officers performed CPR until an ambulance arrived. Boyd was transported to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, where he was declared dead, police said at the time of the shooting. Boyd’s wife was not injured during the incident.

Officers recovered two knives at the scene.

Boyd had a history of "emotionally disturbed calls" but did not have a criminal record, officials said in April.

The state Attorney General’s office investigates every instance in which a police officer, correction officer or other peace officer may have caused a death. Under New York State law, investigations are launched whether the officer is on duty or off-duty, or whether the decedent is armed or unarmed.

If the Office of Special Investigation determines an officer may have caused a death, it launches a full investigation of the incident.

A full report on the shooting will be published at a later date, as required by state law, James’ office said.