Broadway shooting kills Antonio Bryant

(Newburgh) - A Newburgh City Police officer shot and killed a Newburgh man after the man allegedly fired shots at two officers Monday evening. The victim was identified as Antonio Bryant, 23, son of community activist Raymond Bryant, also known as Omari Shakur.

The incident began around 7 p.m., when, according to police, Sgt. Frank Labrada attempted to stop a red Jeep Cherokee in the area of City Terrace and Van Ness Street. The driver’s side rear passenger exited the vehicle, dressed all in black with a black hood and allegedly fired a shot at Sgt. Labrada as he attempted to exit the vehicle. The suspect then fled on foot southbound on City Terrace toward Broadway.

Officer William Lahar was clearing an unrelated traffic stop on Broadway when he observed the suspect still allegedly carrying the gun. At one point police say Bryant attempted to blend in with pedestrians along Broadway, but was soon spotted by police. Bryant then allegedly fired at Labrada and Lahar and Officer Lahar returned fire, striking Bryant, who was transported to St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital just blocks away where he died. Police say that both Lahar and Bryant, each fired three shots.

The shooting brought large crowds of people out into the streets and city police called New Windsor and Town of Newburgh Police as well as State Police to the scene for assistance. A Police helicopter flew over Newburgh, scanning the streets with its spotlight beaming on residents.

“It appears from the facts that we know at this time, that Officer Lahar’s response was justified and necessary in light of Bryant’s actions,” Police Chief Eric Paolilli said in a written statement issued early Tuesday morning. He later added that a gun was recovered.

No information was released by police or the district attorney’s office as to the location of the bullet wounds or the number of bullet’s that hit Antonio Bryant. An autopsy will be performed.

People who witnessed the incident have a slightly different story. They claim Bryant was running away from six or seven police, not two, when he was shot twice in the back of the head, almost execution style. When Antonio Bryant’s mother, Julia Bryant, heard the news of her son’s death Tuesday morning, she collapsed in front of 14 Dubois Street. She, like her son the night before, was transported to St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital. A visibly distraught Shakur accompanied her to the hospital. No further information as to her condition was available as of press time.

Orange County District Attorney Frank Phillips said his office is conducting an investigation into the shooting. At a press conference held Tuesday afternoon, Phillips outlined the processes and procedures for investigating a shooting involving a police officer. Currently Officer Lahar is on administrative leave. They ask that anyone who witnessed the incident contact the police (561-3131) or district attorney’s office (291-2050) with any information. Phillips promised that a grand jury would be called in to “address the facts as they find them to be and we will apply the law accordingly.”

In a city where the majority of the police department is white and a majority of the city’s population is minority, this incident only strains relations between the two.

Pictured above from top to bottom: A memorial of candles stand on the street corner of Dubois and Broadway where Antonio Bryant, son of Omari Shakur, was tragically shot and killed by a City of Newburgh Police officer early Monday evening and Omari Shakur.