Police: Suspect in Albany officer-involved shooting shot himself in head
The suspect in Wednesday’s officer-involved shooting in Albany died after shooting himself in the head, according to Police Chief Eric Hawkins.
Hawkins said an autopsy on the suspect, 28-year-old Amiel Layeni, was done Wednesday.
Layeni was seen speeding just after midnight on Wednesday morning near North Main Avenue and Western Avenue, said police.
Officer Jonathan Damphier put on his lights and tried to stop Layeni, but he drove off. Damphier briefly chased him, but ended the chase over safety concerns.
Layeni’s car was found parked nearby a short time later.
Damphier was shot in the thigh as he approached Layeni’s car, and returned fire.
“We have not had an officer struck by gunfire in two decades in the city of Albany.”
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan
Damphier is now recovering at Albany Medical Center.
Layeni was on probation in Albany County for a conviction in a 2022 reckless driving case, police said.
“We have not had an officer struck by gunfire in two decades in the city of Albany,” said Mayor Kathy Sheehan. “So this for all of us, newer territory, especially given that we have a relatively young department.”
She said this is another example of why more mental health resources are needed.
“I don’t know how many more wake-up calls we need, but this is certainly another incident where we have somebody who was struggling with mental illness, sadly, took their own life but shot a police officer in the throes of whatever he was experiencing,”
Meantime, police searched Layeni’s home at 35 North Pine Ave. in Albany.
“They’ve located two illegally possessed 9mm handguns from the scene and also during a search warrant at Mr. Layeni’ home, they recovered a 9mm ghost gun,” Hawkins said.
The Albany Police Department and the New York State Attorney General’s Office are both investigating.