A 17-year-old boy in New York state died after being shot by police moments after he came down from an overpass where he had been threatening to take his own life, triggering public concern and questions from his family over how the incident was handled.
Authorities said officers were called to the scene after receiving a report that someone was on a bridge and appeared to be suicidal. When police arrived, the teenager—identified as Oscar Granados Colindres—was standing on the edge of the elevated structure and was holding a knife.
Body-worn camera footage shows multiple officers attempting to talk him away from the ledge. Over roughly 50 minutes, officers asked him about his family, including whether he had siblings, and urged him to reconsider and step back from the edge. Additional officers were positioned farther away on the roadway.
The situation escalated after the teenager eventually climbed down from the bridge and ran toward one of the officers. He was then shot and collapsed, with footage and audio capturing at least 10 gunshots. Reports said the shots appeared to have been fired by officers positioned at a greater distance.
The New York State Attorney General's office is involved in reviewing the case. The teen's family has hired a lawyer and issued a statement calling for clearer answers about why a response intended to save his life ended with him being shot. His mother said she believes the outcome might have been different if trained crisis-intervention professionals, rather than police, had taken the lead in the encounter.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available. In the United States, you can call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) for 24/7 support.
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