On the evening of August 15, 2025, the quiet streets of Staten Island’s Great Kills neighborhood were suddenly thrust into the spotlight when a deadly police-involved shooting unfolded near William Avenue and Hylan Boulevard. According to multiple sources, including WABC, AP, and PIX11, the incident began just after 8 p.m. with a 911 call reporting a man brandishing a gun behind the well-known Andrew’s Diner on Hylan Boulevard.
Police say the suspect—later identified as 44-year-old Jesse Campbell, a Staten Island resident with a lengthy arrest record—left the area of the diner shortly after staff noticed the weapon. As fate would have it, two off-duty NYPD officers were walking nearby on William Avenue at that very moment. One officer spotted Campbell holding what appeared to be a firearm and quickly alerted his fellow off-duty colleague, according to Assistant Chief Melissa Eger, commanding officer of NYPD Patrol Borough Staten Island.
The officers, acting on their training, confronted Campbell. They issued multiple loud, clear verbal commands, instructing him to drop his weapon. But instead of complying, Campbell pointed the firearm—later determined to be an imitation, possibly a pellet or BB gun—directly at them. With little time to spare and facing what they perceived as a real and imminent threat, one of the officers fired multiple shots, striking Campbell in the body.
First responders rushed to the scene, and Campbell was transported to Staten Island University North Hospital. Despite the officers’ efforts to perform life-saving measures, he was pronounced dead at the hospital, as confirmed by both AP and WABC.
Assistant Chief Eger, speaking at a late-night press conference, described the officers’ actions as a response to a “dangerous and unpredictable situation.” She emphasized, “Our officers were confronted with a dangerous and unpredictable situation, and they attempted to de-escalate the situation multiple times.” Surveillance video reportedly captured the dramatic encounter, providing key evidence for the ongoing investigation.
The weapon recovered at the scene was not a genuine firearm but an imitation—either a pellet or BB gun, according to law enforcement sources cited by amNewYork and FOX5 NY. During the press briefing, police officials displayed a photograph of the recovered imitation firearm, underscoring how realistic it appeared. The man’s intention with the fake gun remains unclear, and authorities have not ruled out the possibility of an attempted “suicide by cop,” as police sources told PIX11.
Jesse Campbell’s criminal history quickly came to light in the aftermath. According to WABC and amNewYork, Campbell had at least seven prior arrests, including charges for felony offenses, narcotics, larceny, assault, and drugs. While the full details of his past were not immediately released, the revelation added another layer of complexity to the already tense situation.
The shooting drew a swift response from local officials. Staten Island Brooklyn Borough President Vito Fossella issued a statement to reassure the community, saying, “It appears that an off-duty member of the NYPD heroically stepped up to keep the public safe, and we are thankful. It is our understanding that no civilians were injured in the incident.” He also noted that the situation was under control and praised the officers for their actions in preventing further harm.
As emergency vehicles filled the area and police cordoned off the street, residents and bystanders were urged to avoid the vicinity of Hylan Boulevard and Heinz Avenue. Social media posts from NYPD News advised the public to expect delays due to ongoing police activity. Videos posted online showed flashing lights illuminating the night, with at least a dozen officers and multiple ambulances at the scene, as reported by PIX11.
The NYPD Force Investigation Division has taken charge of the case, which remains under active investigation. Assistant Chief Eger confirmed that surveillance footage was being reviewed and all aspects of the incident were being closely examined. She reiterated the department’s commitment to transparency and thoroughness, stating that the officers “attempted to de-escalate the situation multiple times” before resorting to the use of deadly force.
For the NYPD, the Staten Island shooting marked the second police-involved shooting in New York City that week. Just days earlier, on August 12, officers in Brooklyn shot and wounded an armed man who allegedly opened fire on a crowded street, according to amNewYork and FOX5 NY. The frequency of such incidents has reignited conversations about public safety, police training, and the challenges officers face when split-second decisions must be made under extreme pressure.
While the recovered weapon turned out to be an imitation, the officers had no way of knowing that in the heat of the moment. As Assistant Chief Eger explained, “The firearm recovered, while appearing to be a lethal weapon, was in fact either a pellet or a BB gun.” The realistic appearance of such imitation firearms continues to pose significant risks, not only to the public but also to law enforcement officers who must make life-or-death judgments in real time.
Community reactions have been mixed. Some residents expressed gratitude for the officers’ quick response, echoing President Fossella’s sentiments about public safety. Others, however, have called for a deeper examination of how police handle encounters with individuals in distress, especially those who may be seeking to provoke a fatal confrontation with law enforcement—a phenomenon known as “suicide by cop.” The NYPD has not commented on Campbell’s possible motives, and officials have stressed that all findings will be made public once the investigation concludes.
The tragic events of August 15 have once again highlighted the dangers faced by both police officers and the communities they serve. As the investigation continues, questions linger about what led Jesse Campbell to that fateful encounter and whether anything could have been done differently. For now, the streets of Staten Island have returned to a semblance of normalcy, but the memory of that night—and the issues it raised—will not soon be forgotten.
With the NYPD Force Investigation Division still gathering evidence and reviewing surveillance footage, the city awaits answers, hoping for clarity and closure in a case that underscores the unpredictable and often perilous intersection of public safety, mental health, and policing in New York City.
