The man killed in an officer-involved shooting in Wallkill
on Saturday has been identified as Christopher VanKleeck, according to a representative
with Attorney General Letisha James' office.
Wallkill police say they responded to a home at the
intersection of Schutt Road and Avenue A in Middletown around 3:30 p.m. to a
report of a disturbance.
They say there was a confrontation with VanKleeck, 31, before
one of the responding officers fired his weapon, striking VanKleeck at least
once. He was pronounced dead at Garnett Medical Center, police
say.
The officer involved in the shooting is a five-year veteran
of the force. He was placed on non-disciplinary leave.
Many questions remain unanswered, including why a 911 call
was placed, how many shots were fired and the officer’s name who was involved.
Police body camera footage has not yet been released.
The state’s Attorney General’s office and state police are
currently investigating the incident