Emotionally-Disturbed Teen Fatally Shot After Pointing Replica Glock At Cop

Jamesville, NY – An investigation is underway after police fatally shot a 17-year-old boy who pointed an air pistol at officers on Thursday.

Dispatch records showed the incident began at about 12:25 p.m. on March 4 when a mother called 911 to ask for help with her emotionally-disturbed teenager in the 4300-block of Apulia Road, The Post-Standard reported.

The mother told the dispatcher that her 17-year-old had driven off in Ford Fusion after crashing into her car.

She said an emergency psychiatric team from St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center had come to the house to help the boy but the teen had fled, The Post-Standard reported.

He was last seen on Apulia Road driving towards Lafayette.

The dispatcher told officers they didn’t have any information about whether the teen was intoxicated or armed, but warned them that the boy – later identified as Judson Albahm – owned an airsoft gun and had a history of threatening to commit suicide by cop, The Post-Standard reported.

The Jamesville-DeWitt School District and a law enforcement source confirm the 17 year-old shot & killed by police this week near is Judson Albahm.
Police were called in after authorities say the teen became uncooperative with psychiatric counselors. pic.twitter.com/dnOREhvNYQ

— Michael Benny (@MichaelBenny) March 5, 2021

Albahm also had a history of being emotionally disturbed and armed, according to the dispatcher.

Dewitt police, New York State Police, and Onondaga County sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene and the 17 year old fled with what appeared to be a pistol in his hand, WSYR reported.

When officers attempted to approach Albahm, police said he raised his weapon in their direction, The Post-Standard reported.

“As officers approached the suspect, the suspect raised and pointed the weapon at the officers,” a law enforcement press release read. “The officers discharged their service weapons, striking the suspect, who was pronounced deceased at the scene.”

The sheriff’s office identified the BB gun Albahm was holding when he was shot as a replica Glock G19 Gen 3 .177 CO2 Action Pistol Handgun, WSTM reported.

Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said Friday that authorities have not yet determined which prosecutors will be investigating the officer-involved shooting, The Post-Standard reported.

The decision hinges on whether Albahm was considered armed at the time he was shot by police.

If the 17 year old was armed, the Onondaga District Attorney’s Office would investigate the incident, The Post-Standard reported.

But if it’s determined that Albahm was unarmed or there is a “significant question” about whether he was armed, the New York Attorney General’s Office would lead the investigation.

The Attorney General’s Office told The Post-Standard that it was still considering the jurisdiction and hadn’t made a decision as of March 5.

The New York Civil Liberties Union the same day issued a statement that condemned the shooting, WSYR reported.

“While we continue searching for answers, several facts are clear: dozens of cops, sheriffs and state police descended on the scene of a young person experiencing a mental health crisis, and took the very life they swore to protect. DeWitt police, New York state police, and Onondaga County Sheriffs are responsible for making this situation fatal – no one else. This tragedy shows that police escalate by design, and do not ensure the dignity, health and basic human rights that all residents deserve,” Yusuf Abdul-Qadir, senior racial justice strategist for the New York Civil Liberties Union, said.