The NYS Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has completed its preliminary investigation of the police-involved shooting that occurred in Vestal on February 25, 2026, and will be releasing the bodycam footage of the incident.
Vestal Police Chief Vincent Stavola is now permitted to issue a statement providing the facts of the incident.
We thank all our residents for their patience in this process.
Chief Stavola's statement:
On February 25th, 2026, at approximately 11:36 a.m., Broome County Dispatch received a call reporting a male armed with a knife was experiencing, what the caller described as, a psychiatric episode at a residence on Sequoia Lane in the Town of Vestal.
The dispatcher gathered additional information before dispatching Vestal Police units shortly after 11:39 a.m. When dispatched, officers were advised that a male, later identified as Eslam Hegazy, was armed with a knife. The first officer arrived on scene approximately three and a half minutes later and made contact with the caller.
The caller at the residence advised the responding officer that Hegazy walked toward the backyard, was armed with a knife, and had made suicidal statements, specifically that he was “going to leave this earth.” The caller also reported that they were able to track Hegazy’s cellphone location, which indicated he may be behind the residence.
The responding officer proceeded to the rear of the property, where he observed Hegazy from a distance, in the wooded area, holding a knife in his right hand. Hegazy was seen advancing toward another officer, who was checking the area. The responding officer who observed Hegazy immediately alerted his partner by radio to Hegazy's presence. Commands were given to drop the knife, at which point Hegazy ignored commands and continued to advance on patrol officers and raised the knife above his head.
Given the presence of a weapon, officers drew their firearms and continued to issue multiple verbal commands for Hegazy to drop the knife, while also requesting additional resources to the scene. Hegazy, however, continued to advance toward officers multiple times with the knife in hand, and is heard replying “no, no, I will not” to officers' commands, before moving back toward the residence. Officers backed away several times to maintain distance from Hegazy, while telling him to drop the knife.
As the subject moved back toward the front of the house, both officers deployed both of their taser cartridges (4 separate deployments) in an effort to subdue Hegazy, using less-lethal force. Although one deployment had a limited effect, causing Hegazy to fall, Hegazy retained possession of the knife and quickly stood up, ignoring an additional command to drop the weapon.
Officers continued to give commands for Hegazy to drop the knife. Hegazy then entered and exited the garage and attempted to access a vehicle parked in the driveway through an open driver’s side window. Hegazy then returned to the garage and removed a flat screen television from it. While still holding the knife, Hegazy advanced on officers once again and threw the flat screen television at an officer, who was struck while trying to deflect the flat screen television away from his head. This officer attempted to get off the snow onto solid ground and moved to the residence's walkway.
A third officer, who arrived on scene, deployed an additional taser, which was ineffective, as well. Hegazy then raised the knife toward that officer, who attempted to create distance, and slipped and fell on the snow-covered ground. Hegazy subsequently turned toward another officer and advanced while raising the knife above his head. Fearing for his life, the officer discharged his firearm. Another officer, fearing for the imminent threat to their partner's life, also discharged their firearm.
Officers immediately moved closer to Hegazy to prepare to render aid and take Hegazy into custody. Once it was safe to do so, an officer retrieved a medical supply kit from a patrol vehicle, while other officers detained Hegazy and rendered aid until EMS arrived on scene.
From the time of initial contact to the discharge of firearms, approximately 2 minutes and 22 seconds elapsed. During this time, officers issued 42 commands for Hegazy to drop the knife. Hegazy repeatedly and aggressively advanced towards officers while armed with a knife, ignoring orders to drop the knife. Given Hegazy's non-compliance and continued escalation, further de-escalation was limited. A total of five taser cartridges were deployed by three officers. One officer was struck by the thrown flat screen television. In total, four rounds were discharged, striking Hegazy.
By virtue of New York’s Executive Law 70-b, the incident remains under investigation by the Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation (OSI), as do all officer-involved incidents that result in a fatality.