AG: Officer who fatally shot sword-wielding man in Poughkeepsie won’t face charges
The Attorney General’s Office's report says Brian Czornyj was fatally shot by a Poughkeepsie police officer in June 2025.
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No criminal charges will be filed against a police officer who shot a Poughkeepsie man last year.
The Attorney General’s Office just released a report on the death of Brian Czornyj. They say he was shot by a Poughkeepsie police officer in June 2025.
Police say they got a 911 call about Czornyj, saying he had a sword and had hit his father and a mental health crisis worker.
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When officers arrived, they say Czornyj was still holding the sword and refused repeated orders to drop it. That's when an officer opened fire.
Czornyj later died at the hospital.
The AG’s office says that the officer’s actions were justified.
