New York Police Release Graphic Video of Fatal Gunfight with 8-Time Felon

Current Events Defensive Use of Firearms Max Slowik

 

 

Following a deadly shooting that left two police officers injured and a suspect dead, the Troy, New York Police Department has released surveillance video of the event. Police Chief John Tedesco said that the police had “nothing to hide,” and that the public has the right to see what happened for themselves.

The video shows Officer Chad Klein pulling up to 39-year-old carjacking suspect Thaddeus Faison. Faison then shoots into the vehicle, striking Klein in the shoulder. Shortly after the initial shooting, Officer Joshua Comitale, pursuing Faison on foot, arrived and opened fire on the suspect.

The shooting took place last August and some have questioned the officers’ use of force. This video, taken by a city surveillance camera, supports the officers’ descriptions of the shooting according to investigators in internal affairs.

After the shooting the officers were taken to the Albany Medical Center Hospital where they were treated for their injuries; Faison died at the scene as a result of four to six gunshots to the torso and Comitale’s legs were shattered. Both officers were wearing ballistic vests.

Klein drove away from the suspect after being shot and did not shoot at the suspect. During the shooting 29 shots were fired, 20 by Officer Commitale and the rest by Faison. Comitale was forced to reload after shooting his first magazine empty.

See Also: Chicago on Edge Over Footage Showing Fatal Police Shooting

The officers were praised on how they handled the situation, considering both had been shot in the process. Both are currently still on medical leave but are expected to return to service later this year.

Late last year a grand jury found no evidence of any crimes committed by Comitale. Evidence supporting Comitale included a strong criminal history on Faison’s part, as well as medical records that showed Faison had cannabis and PCP in his system at the time of death.

Faison’s criminal history reaches back to 1999. He had multiple convictions for carjacking, drug dealing and violating parole. He was convicted of felonies eight times, four of them for violent crimes.

Still, Faison’s friends and girlfriend defended him after the shooting, saying that he was out running an errand, out to get formula for his 8-month twins. To ease tensions, the video was released with a viewing for community and city leaders.

Rev. Cornelius Clark, pastor of the Holy Serenity Church of God in Christ, told the Times Union, “Everything went the way … it should have gone.”

The viewing included city leaders from both sides of the political aisle, who agreed that the shooting was “by the book” and that the officers reacted correctly, using appropriate force, in accordance with their training.

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  • Dan January 18, 2019, 9:40 pm

    I don’t know how that guy ever passed a background check to legally purchase the gun he used to defend himself against those two mean old cops. He was just starting to get his life back together after a few childish pranks that went wrong. I say his family should sue the hell out of the police. Seriously, I wish the heroes in blue the speediest and complete recovery from ALL of their injuries

  • Joey November 9, 2018, 10:20 am

    WOW! That officer that pulled in and then decided to drive around needs to be removed from duty immediately. Jesus – he had about 10 options of things he could have done that would have been helpful, only one that was not – he picked the one. What a douchebag.

  • Doc January 13, 2017, 10:31 am

    Why is it that they always look at the officers conduct following the shooting of these slime. Why don’t they also look at the judges that allow these animals to walk free. This guy obviously should have had the 3 strikes and you’re locked up forever rule applied. This judge is guilty of allowing this animal out and should be held accountable for the officers being shot. Maybe not legally but liably

  • alex March 2, 2016, 12:47 pm

    eight felonies and still on the street? going for formula for his eight month old twins which i guess we’re paying for!!! got to love america!!!!!!!!!

  • Ranger Rick February 27, 2016, 10:28 am

    This video provides a lot of teaching points whether in law enforcement or CHL carry:
    *Off. Klein pulled up next to a carjacking suspect who was being pursued and for his lack of tactical consideration was shot for his troubles; his family is lucky he wasn’t killed.
    *Off. Comitale does a pretty good job of engaging the criminal (POS), gets a couple of hits, gets shot himself, but doesn’t quit the fight, he reloads and stays engaged.
    *Off. Klein decides to drive around the engagement going through the intersection and parks off scene somewhere out of sight. Perhaps he could have used the two plus ton vehicle as his weapon and finished the fight earlier?
    *The now wounded Off. Klein then actually approaches the active shooting scene on foot without his service weapon drawn confirming that he still really doesn’t comprehend the seriousness of the situation.
    Big take aways:
    *Felony pursuits are dangerous.
    *Be ready to immediately engage.
    *Most armed confrontations are close range, but you need to be prepared for more than arm distance and two or three shots.
    *Bad guys don’t give up, neither should you.
    *Have a reload.
    *Its not over till its over; don’t do a Klein.

    • DG March 2, 2016, 6:56 pm

      Ranger, I completely agree with you. I’d add that Ofc. Klein should be removed from the force immediately!!!! I would not want him covering my 6!!

  • hey February 27, 2016, 12:24 am

    Key words “8 TIME FELON!!!!” America’s judicial system is the biggest laughing joke of the world. That is what we really should be fighting over, but no the government would rather capitalize 33,000 dollars per per incarceration (2006 census) by letting them out to influence the next generation of kids to be scum bags to prey on the innocent. No wonder we are almost bankrupt with meth, crack, pimps, dealers, rapes, murders, etc in the streets.

  • MagnumOpUS February 26, 2016, 8:05 pm

    An 8-time felon??
    Two more felony convictions and he would have qualified to run for high political office in the DemoKKKrat party.

    Live like an animal; die like an animal!

    • hey February 27, 2016, 6:33 pm

      Amen, I couldn’t say it better!

  • Jerry February 26, 2016, 12:25 pm

    Way to crush freedom of speech moderators, couldn’t handle a second opinion with a little logic? Booo to you and this website. Unsubscribe.

  • Jerry February 26, 2016, 12:20 pm

    You guys are psychos, execute everyone ? You people need help and should be disarmed by new mental health gun laws. I saw a citizen get ambushed from behind by two different cops that couldn’t hit the broad side of a building, they needed all 20 shots since most hit the ground or the building behind him. How many officer bullets missed and endangered the people in that building? Where was that first cop hiding that he burst out and shot that poor guy in the back. What would you have to say if someone did that to you or someone you know? Cops are just regular people that were a uniform to work like everybody else, no need for the pedestal. Prisons are FOR profit entities, the more people they house the more money they make, has nothing to do with due process taking to long. You want to help, put the barrel in your own mouth and squeeze.

    • Mike February 26, 2016, 2:37 pm

      Did you even read the article? The officer that “couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn” and was “shooting up the ground” had already been shot and was laying on the ground bleeding while still stop the suspect. Let’s see how Accurate you shoot after having both legs shot out from under you. And the article clearly states that the officer that “was hiding” was already engaged in a foot chase with the suspect. Please people actually read the article before posting a display of your incompetence

    • Alan February 26, 2016, 2:41 pm

      By all means Jerry, you first.
      You make statements against violence, then incite the same yourself?!
      Speaking to New mental health laws, perhaps you should submit yourself for psychiatric evaluation,
      Seek help Jerry.

      • DickG February 26, 2016, 3:45 pm

        And perhaps, Jerry, could you corral your friend Lurch to accompany you to that “further evaluation” session with your shrink?
        .

        .

    • Glen February 26, 2016, 9:30 pm

      Wow Jerry, what planet are you from? Last I checked law abiding citizens DONT SHOOT AT POLICE! Are you truly that stupid to think the police abushed him? Are you really that stupid NOT to consider previous criminal history of violence? Let me guess, those where set up’s too!

      Let’s see how good you shoot at a distance of 50+ feet and see how you do, before you make an ignorant non-experience, Monday morning quarterbacking stupid comment like that.

      You talk mental health, why don’t you try to follow the rules of society, and maybe you won’t have the police chasing you down.
      That’s the problem with this stupid liberal mentality, ignorant base, lacking experience to make any form of an educated comment, emotional selling trash that they spit out of their mouth.

      God help America with idiots like you!

    • Rodney March 5, 2016, 3:31 pm

      Your soo right I trully agree

  • Ted B February 26, 2016, 11:18 am

    Doesn’t NY have some of the toughest gun laws in the country? Which would make it impossible for a felon to get his hands on a handgun. That just goes to show you that gun control and all gun laws are just for the good law abiding people, criminals will always be able to steal or buy a gun no matter what laws are out there.

  • Larry February 26, 2016, 11:06 am

    And that, my friends, is how it really happens. All this crap of bang, you’re dead, is BS. Carry the largest caliber handgun that you can with the most rounds in it & extra magazine (s). That officer with his legs shot up needed every one of those twenty rounds he fired at & into that POS criminal.
    Two fellow officers of mine got in a gun fight with an armed robber/murderer. He did not leave his feet until the 13th round hit him (in the neck). After finally going down, he turned back toward the closest officer & began to bring his gun up & my buddy kicked the gun out of his hand. The scumbag was dead after the first few rounds hit him center mass but that message did not get to his brain for a while.
    Always carry 24/7 & be careful out there, my friends.

  • Onthe Wall February 26, 2016, 9:43 am

    An 8-time felon! What happened to the 3 strikes and you’re in prison for the rest of your life sentence. The law from years ago that was explained like this ‘If you are a 2-time felon something as simple as catching you with a single bullet, a felony because you are already a 2-time felon then it says’ go to jail, lock cell and throw away the keys’.

    • OK then February 26, 2016, 7:52 pm

      NYS is the land of 2nd, 3rd, 102nd chances. Unless you are a member of the NRA or the conservative party.

  • DG February 26, 2016, 7:28 am

    Too many liberal judges have been put in the justice system. Justice is supposed to be blind. Follow the Constitution! 8 time convicted felon should not have been on the streets!

    We must have a Nation Wide Death Penalty!
    Sentence carried out with in 1 year of sentence. not 20 – 50 years later. Clean out the prisons now, put all the lifers to death, all the murderers to death. Bring back public hangings. Liberal have been in control way too long. They have coddled to the criminals, treating them better then some of the victims even. This is wrong. This is also part of what’s wrong with our Country now.

    • JS February 26, 2016, 9:09 am

      I agree wholeheartedly. I have been advocating for the 1 year moratorium on appeals since I was an officer in the 70’s. I think the criminal systems should hire a small “appeals” staff for death sentence inmates and give them 1 year to come up with any and all reasons why the sentence should not be imposed at the end of that time. It should empanel a 3 Judge court to review and then execute immediately. It would save the country untold millions in housing, feeding, medical care, and prison staff hours. If you do the crime, you do the time/penalty. The liberals have one thing right, the system is broken, but not in the way they claim. Victims get no Justice.

      • Timothy February 26, 2016, 11:59 am

        Prisons are for profit , the more people they warehouse the more money they make, its no accident or legal process that keeps them there forever. It is intentional money making.

    • hey February 27, 2016, 12:32 am

      That makes perfect since but then the government can not capitalize $33,000 per incenration per year (2006 census) The incenration rate is 6 times higher per GOP than the second worst country in the world, which is England. 1 in 99 Americans will be incenrated in their life time, all though I am sure the culture will change alot more in the next 20 years as they let them back on the streets to influence the next generation.

    • Joey November 9, 2018, 10:26 am

      What about the 150 guys that have been released from death row since DNA came into play? Not to mention the hundreds released from LONG sentences who were also innocent? They have to die to feed your idea of “justice”? Quite frankly, I want someone who kills someone in my family to do life without parole – you can’t suffer when you’re dead.

  • JerryJ February 26, 2016, 6:04 am

    Well, to be HONEST, to me it looked like SUICIDE by POLICE, and the POLICE helped him out !!! BUT, 8 times a FELON ????????????? Good GOD, what is up with the JUSTICE system ???????? They should have EXECUTED this SCUMBAG a long time ago !! On, another note.
    I sent out letters to 20 state governors,offering my services. Since their is so much controversy about, how to EXECUTE death row inmates,I offered my services. Told them I would EXECUTE prisoners in the BEST QUICKEST ,PAINLESS way. I would put a 9 m.m 147 grainJHP XTP round into the brain. My ONLY expense, would be, for gas tolls, hotel meals and any possible maintenance issues with my vehicle. OF, course, the state would be responsible for cleaning up the mess !!!
    You know how many RESPONSES , I got back ??????????????????????????????????????????

    ZERO

  • daniel February 19, 2016, 2:45 pm

    there is know way a Judge at this position would be treated like that the do better job on dead criminals

  • SuperG February 19, 2016, 1:56 pm

    I hope I’m alive when the day comes when society grows tired of coddling violent felons and starts executing them after their third one. How many innocent people would be alive today if we had started doing this a decade ago?

    • daniel February 19, 2016, 2:43 pm

      Antonin Scalia i believe was murdered.

    • James M. February 19, 2016, 11:04 pm

      There will always be innocent blood shed by those incapable of living within the boundaries of a civilized society. I personally believe that if a person has habitually committed violent acts, that person should be executed. And to take it one further. The execution should be done in public so that children of age (12-14 yrs of age) can be shown the consequences of committing such acts of violence. Murder, rape, molestation, etc. In our current society there is very little that is considered taboo. The balance is way off. One person gets busted for pot and spends years in prison while another commits unspeakable acts on children and sees less than five years.

      • JerryJ February 26, 2016, 6:07 am

        James, dont LIMIT it to 12-14 y.o.. MAKE it MANDATORY that ALL people attend the PUBLIC EXECUTIONS !!!!!!!

      • Mahatma Muhjesbude February 28, 2016, 9:51 am

        What about executing Combat vets, James? They ‘habitually’ commit a LOT of violent acts, even, ‘god forbid’, acts of KILLING people?
        Oh, but those were ‘good’ acts of violence, right? Like when God committed the ultimate act of violence on all humans by wiping them out in the first few pages of the Bible? With the exception, ‘naturally’, of a few of his special buds.

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