Johnstown cop cleared in fatal shooting of knife-wielding man

A Johnstown police officer has been cleared by the Attorney General’s Office in the fatal shooting of a man who police said was attacking him with a hammer.

Nathan Wood, 28, had entered an apartment on Washington Street on Sept. 17, 2023, damaged property and hit a person with a hammer, according to police.

Officer Ryan Wilmot responded to the scene. Wood was wielding a hammer and smashed the front porch window. He said he was going to “kill” his “buddy.” Wilmot ordered him to drop the hammer.

He jumped toward Wilmot, who backed down the stairs and fired a shot, according to the report from the Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation.

Wood hit Wilmot with the hammer in the mouth. Wilmot fired two more shots at Wood and then another officer pulled Wilmot away and took the hammer away from Wood.

One of those shots hit Wood in the chest. Officers began life-saving measures. Wood was transported to Nathan Littauer Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

One of the victims told police that the Wood had drug and mental health issues and would occasionally show up and stay at the residence. His twin brother stayed in one of the apartments of the two-story, two-family home.

The victims said that Wood was at the apartment on Sept. 8 and was hallucinating. Johnstown Police came and took Wood to St. Mary’s Hospital for a mental health evaluation. Wood was released a few hours later.

The victim told police that on the day of the incident Wood was running down the stairs with two hammer. He told the person he didn’t know who they were and “Aliens are out here.” Then, he trashed the apartment.

They called police, which led to the encounter with police.

“After a full evaluation of the facts and analysis of the law, OSI concludes that a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the actions of Officer Wilmot were justified.”  

Attorney Paul DerOhannesian, who is representing Wilmot as well as fellow officers Jace Kollar and Detective Sgt. John Silwa, issued a statement saying that the incident highlights the “vital decisions” that law enforcement officers must make to protect themselves.

“While responding to a call, Mr. Wilmot verbally instructed the attacker, who was armed with a hammer — classified as a “dangerous instrument” under New York law — to stand down. It was only when the attacker lunged at him that Mr. Wilmot resorted to self-defense. The Johnstown Police Department officers involved in this tragic shooting appreciate the Attorney General’s Office’s careful review of the evidence, which depicts an unfortunate instance in which the use of force was necessary and justified.”