Body Cam Footage Released In Fatal Police Shooting At Rochester Tech Park

The New York Attorney General's Office has released body camera footage of the August 6 shooting of police officer Daniel Legler.

Legler, 35, was shot and killed in a field near Rochester Technology Park after police said he shot and killed New York State Trooper Dominic Caito.

According to state police, the collision began on Interstate 490 near Innovation Field when Kaito attempted to stop Legler's car for an overdue state inspection. Legler did not comply and headed west on Highway 531 to Gates.

Police said shortly after the traffic stop, Legler exited the Rochester Technology Park Freeway onto Elmgrove Road, where he hit a guardrail, jumped a curb and fell into a field.

As Kaito attempted to arrest the driver, the two men argued before Legler fired "at close range from the officer," police said. Kaito shot Legler.

More: Man shot by police officer at Rochester Technology Park identified

The New York Attorney General's Office is responsible for investigating all incidents in which a police officer may have caused the death of another person. Whenever possible, the office strives to release body camera footage to increase transparency about these incidents.

The investigation into Legler's death is ongoing, but the office said officers recovered a firearm at the scene. On average, it took the agency just over a year to present its findings.

The State Attorney's Office released 2 minutes, 37 seconds of Kaito's body camera footage of the incident as he followed Legler onto the highway with his lights and sirens activated.

The footage shows Kaito getting out of the car but keeping his distance from Legler, ordering the man to stay in the car six times over the next 30 seconds and warning Legler that a police dog was approaching and that he was being held at gunpoint. . .

Legler gets out of the car and starts to walk away, but trips and falls. Kaito then approaches the man, orders him to stay on the ground and shoots him in the stomach, telling Legler that he has a stun gun. “Don’t do that,” Legler countered.

Seconds later, the officer screamed and ran back to his police car, shooting Legler multiple times in the back as he stood. It is unclear what exactly the officer saw or heard that caused him to flee.

Kaito stops not far from him, shots are heard over the radio, and Legler continues to shout for him to get down on the ground. Legler stands still and does not move. Kaito throws another punch and Legler goes down. About 20 seconds passed between the first and last shot.

“They disappeared into the square,” Kaito told police radio. “The suspect is lying on the ground. He has a gun, but I don't know where it is. I’ll run back for cover.”

WARNING - GRAPHIC IMAGE: Body camera image released by the State Attorney's Office.

Kayla Kahn reports on justice and public safety efforts for the Democrat and Chronicle. Contact kcanne@gannett.com or @kaylacane on Twitter.

This article originally appeared in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Body camera footage released from the fatal police shooting of Daniel Legler.

Emotional testimony at trial of man accused of killing Everett police officer