Marshal: Suspect shot and killed by own gun during struggle with task force

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — The U.S. Marshal’s Service says a man is dead after he was shot by his own gun during a struggle with members of the service’s task force at around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Marshal Charles Salina said investigators with the Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force went to a home on Vinewood Place by Dr. Samuel McCree Way to serve a warrant out of Wayne County to arrest the man. The man was wanted on a second-degree assault against a child charge.

Salina said when the group went to take the man into custody, he pulled out a gun, and a struggle started. During the struggle, Salina said the suspect’s gun went off once, and that round hit and killed the suspect.

News10NBC Investigative Reporter Jennifer Lewke: "Did he run to get it or did he have it on his person at the time?"

Salina: "I am not gonna comment any further Jennifer, as I said the state police major crimes unit from RPD and the State Attorney General’s Office will do their investigation."

Marshal’s Fugative task force was searching for suspect charged with assault 2nd against a child in Wayne County, they arrived to take him into custody and a scuffle ensued. Police say one-shot was fired from a gun the suspect produced. It hit and killed the suspect. @news10nbc

— Jennifer Lewke (@WHEC_JLewke) September 15, 2021

Salina said no law enforcement officers fired a shot.

The force included Rochester Police, New York State Police, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Salina said the suspect’s name is not being released at this time. An investigation including RPD, and the New York State Attorney General’s Office is underway,

In New York, every death in police custody or at the hands of police is handled by the attorney general, whether the person killed was armed or not.

Salina said the suspect was either visiting or staying with a relative on Vinewood Place in Rochester and one other person was in the home at the time of the shooting. In the hours following, Salina said a number of distraught relatives came to the scene.

US Marshal says no officers fired any shots. They have not named the suspect who was shot by his own gun. @news10nbc

— Jennifer Lewke (@WHEC_JLewke) September 15, 2021

None of the task force members were injured in the incident according to Salina.

"You rode along with them, you see how dangerous it could be and unfortunately today we have somebody who is deceased," Salina said.

Task force members do not wear body cameras. Most of them are plainclothes and undercover. They identify themselves when approaching a house and knocking on the door. After they get a suspect in custody, they normally call in a marked car to take that person to jail.