Body-worn camera footage from the case of Hugh Davis, who died in an encounter with Cheektowaga Police Department officers, has been made public by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The video, released as part of an ongoing investigation, depicts the events leading up to Davis’s death in Buffalo on August 13. The Attorney General’s Office asserts the move is aimed to bolster transparency and trust between the public and law enforcement.
The incident, which occurred around 12:45 p.m. when Cheektowaga Police attempted to apprehend Davis at his apartment for a prior assault charge, escalated rapidly as officers approached; the footage shows that the door panel suddenly fell inwards and almost immediately, Davis emerged with a knife in hand and came dangerously close to injuring an officer, who then fired his service weapon resulting in Davis’s fatality. A subsequent search of the scene revealed a large kitchen-type knife, according to the Attorney General’s Office…