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Christopher M. Van Kleeck

Age : 31

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 06/12/2021

Location : Schutt Road and Avenue A

City : Middletown

County : Orange

State : New York

Agency : Wallkill Police Department

Officer(s) :Daniel Graham

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during response to crisis call

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On June 12, 2021, officers from the Town of Wallkill Police Department responded to a call from Christopher Van Kleeck’s mother who requested help for her son, who was exhibiting signs of a mental health crisis. The Orange County Crisis Call Center relayed that Van Kleeck had threatened to harm responding officers. When Officer Daniel Graham arrived at the home in Middletown around 3:35 p.m., he observed Van Kleeck chasing a family member on the lawn while holding two knives. Van Kleeck ran toward the patrol car with the knives raised. Officer Graham fired his service weapon through the patrol car windshield three times, striking Van Kleeck. Responding officers and emergency medical services then rendered aid and transported Van Kleeck to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The New York State Office of the Attorney General investigated and concluded that criminal charges were not warranted based on the evidence and applicable law.

SOURCE LINKS :

Report from the New York State Office of the Attorney General Office of Special Investigation on Van Kleeck’s death https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/reports/van_kleeck_report_20220930_final.pdf
Attorney General press release summarizing the findings https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2022/attorney-general-james-office-special-investigation-releases-report-death
Video summary of the Wallkill police shooting incident https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvmY_t1Rbx0