A 37-year-old man was shot and killed by law enforcement Thursday morning after a standoff at an apartment complex in Malta, marking the second fatal officer-involved shooting in the Saratoga County town in less than 24 hours.
According to New York State Police, troopers and Saratoga County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a physical domestic dispute around 8:53 a.m. at Building 2 of the Ellsworth Commons Apartments. When officers arrived just after 9 a.m., the man involved—identified as Brandon R. Moore, 37—barricaded himself inside his apartment and refused to cooperate.
“At approximately 10.37 a.m., while law enforcement personnel were attempting negotiations, Mr. Moore exited the apartment with what appeared to be a handgun. Law enforcement members instructed Mr. Moore to drop the firearm. Mr. Moore refused to follow the multiple commands and aimed the weapon at state police members and deputies. At that time, the troopers and deputies fired their department-issued firearms fatally striking him,” said Major Christopher Gilroy, Troop G Commander with New York State Police during a press briefing.
Investigators later determined that the weapon Moore was holding was a CO2-powered BB pistol, which was loaded at the time.
Two state troopers suffered minor injuries during the incident and were released from the hospital. How they were injured is still under investigation, police said.
The victim involved in the domestic violence call that prompted police response suffered a non life threatening injury prior to troopers arriving.
Law enforcement evacuated the building out of an abundance of caution.
“I was working– I work remotely– and all of a sudden I heard shots fired. I stayed in my apartment. I wasn’t sure where they were coming from. In about two minutes after that, the fire alarm went off and I realized this is serious, they want us out of the building,” said Alexandra Berene, a resident of Building 2 at Ellsworth Commons.
This shooting comes just a day after a separate officer-involved shooting occurred roughly half a mile away at the New York State Police barracks, where a gunman identified as David Levine, 69, arrived armed with a rifle and opened fire in the parking lot. Troopers returned fire and killed him.
Thursday’s incident was further complicated by the activation of the building’s sprinkler system, which caused flooding in an unknown number of units.
Authorities say the building is currently uninhabitable, and flooding mitigation efforts are underway.
The mixed-used building has commercial properties on the first floor and apartments on the rest.
Residents tell CBS6 they were told it could be five days before they’re able to return home.
Police say 75 units in all were evacuated.
Thursday’s incident remains under investigation.
The New York State Attorney General’s Office has been notified and responded to the scene.
Thursday’s incident comes just one day after a separate officer-involved shooting nearby, when 33-year-old David Levine drove to the New York State Police barracks in Malta armed with a rifle and opened fire. Troopers returned fire and killed Levine. That shooting occurred less than half a mile from Ellsworth Commons.
Authorities say there is no known connection between the two incidents, but the back-to-back shootings have left many in the community on edge.
The investigation into both incidents is ongoing.