STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The NYPD has released body‑camera footage showing the fatal Jan. 8 shooting of 37-year-old Dimitry Zass, the Staten Island man who was shot and killed by NYPD officers in Manhattan, according to the New York Daily News.
Zass, of Great Kills, allegedly pointed a pellet gun at Officers Geslline Gonzalez and Christopher Rodriguez in the West Village, according to the footage, says the report.
Officers Gonzalez and Rodriguez fired 26 rounds after Zass raised the air-powered pistol toward them near Bedford Street and Sixth Avenue, the New York Daily News said.
According to the report, the footage includes CCTV video of Zass backing his BMW into a van moments before the encounter and then emerging from the car with the weapon in hand.
Body‑cam recordings capture the officers approaching, opening fire, and repeatedly ordering Zass to drop the gun as he lay on the ground, the publication reported.
The New York Daily News previously reported that Zass had a physical altercation with his father that brought police to the home on the Monday prior to the incident, and ABC7 reported that his parents were pursuing an order of protection.
The imitation firearm recovered from the scene of the shooting of Dmitriy Zass, 37, in Manhattan’s West Village on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026.(Courtesy of the NYPD)Official response
Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation announced in early Jan. that it was opening an investigation into Zass’ death.
No charges have been filed yet in connection the incident.
James’ office said law requires the Office of Special Investigation to assess “every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer…may have caused the death of a person by an act or omission.”
A man at Zass’ home previously declined to speak to the Advance/SILive.com on, but a neighbor said she was heartbroken to hear of his death.
“He was a really nice boy,” said the neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous. “As a matter of fact, he took care of our dog for a whole week for us, and he walked him every day. I had many conversations with him. Great kid. I don’t know what happened.”
The neighbor said she’d known the family since they’d moved in around 20 years ago.
The evening of Jan. 8
According to Police, at approximately 10:53 p.m., officers on foot patrol were flagged down by two individuals in the vicinity of Bedford Street and 6th Avenue in the West Village.
Those individuals informed police that they were involved in a collision with a BMW that attempted to flee the scene.
That BMW was stuck in traffic when Officers Gonzalez and Rodriguez approached, the chief said. It was then that a man, later identified as Zass, allegedly stepped out of the BMW and pointed what appeared to be a firearm at the officers, prompting them to shoot.
It was later determined that Zass was holding an imitation gun, a Sig Sauer air pistol that was recovered at the scene, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
Despite repeated commands from Officers Gonzalez and Rodriguez to drop the weapon, Zass maintained possession of the air pistol after being shot and said nothing, McCarthy said.
Officers immediately requested EMS to transport Zass to an area hospital, McCarthy added. It was at the hospital that Zass was pronounced deceased at 11:17 p.m.
The two officers involved in the shooting were taken to an area hospital for evaluation, police said.
ABC7 reported a witness said he saw the BMW driving on Sixth Avenue, “the wrong way, with its bumper dragging on the ground, around this corner, pursued by a minivan. Stopped at that stop sign, then backed into the minivan.”