Man fatally shot by Wallkill police officer identified

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.

News 12 Staff

Jun 13, 2021, 1:05 AM

Updated 1,214 days ago

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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