Haverstraw, N.Y. — NYPD Assistant Chief Benjamin Gurley has publicly addressed an off-duty incident in Rockland County that remains under investigation after a firearm discharged during a physical altercation in a Garnerville shopping center parking lot.
The incident occurred on the evening of May 24 in the parking lot of the ShopRite shopping center on West Ramapo Road. According to the Haverstraw Police Department, officers responded to reports of a fight involving two men at approximately 7:45 p.m. Upon arrival, officers found both individuals involved in the altercation.
Police said one of the men was Gurley, a high-ranking member of the New York City Police Department assigned to Patrol Borough Bronx North. Investigators determined that Gurley was carrying a legally owned handgun at the time of the confrontation.
Authorities said a single round was discharged during the incident. No one was struck by the bullet, and no property damage was reported. Both men sustained minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment before being released. The circumstances surrounding the discharge remain under investigation by multiple agencies.
According to statements released by law enforcement and Gurley’s attorney, the confrontation may have stemmed from allegations that the other individual had been harassing Gurley’s daughter. Police said the daughter and the other man were acquaintances and were not involved in a domestic relationship. Authorities have not publicly identified the second individual.
In a statement issued through attorney Oliver Storch, Gurley said he is cooperating fully with the investigation and urged the public to avoid drawing conclusions before investigators complete their review. The statement described the incident as the culmination of concerns involving alleged harassment directed toward his daughter and noted that reports had previously been filed with local police.
Investigators have not released details regarding who physically possessed the firearm at the moment it discharged. Early reports indicated the weapon was removed from a waistband during the struggle, but officials have not publicly determined whether the discharge was accidental, negligent, or the result of another circumstance. Surveillance footage from the area is reportedly being reviewed as part of the investigation.
The Haverstraw Police Department and the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office are conducting the primary investigation. At the same time, the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau and Force Investigation Division have opened separate reviews, consistent with department procedures involving firearm discharges by members of the service.
Following the incident, Gurley was placed on modified duty pending the outcome of the investigations. News reports indicate his department-issued firearm and badge were temporarily secured as part of standard protocol while the review proceeds. No criminal charges have been announced as of this writing.
The incident has attracted attention because of Gurley’s position within the NYPD. A 26-year veteran of the department, he was recently appointed to oversee the newly established Bronx North patrol borough. Throughout his career, he has held a variety of command assignments and has been involved in community policing and crime-reduction initiatives.
Residents and shoppers interviewed by local media expressed a range of reactions, with some questioning how the situation escalated and others emphasizing the need to wait for the results of the investigation before drawing conclusions. Community members noted that incidents involving gunfire are relatively uncommon in the area and have generated significant local interest.
Authorities have not provided a timeline for completing the investigation. Officials say additional information will be released if warranted as evidence is reviewed and witness interviews continue.
For now, investigators remain focused on determining exactly how the confrontation unfolded and what circumstances led to the discharge of the firearm. The findings of those investigations will determine whether any administrative action or criminal charges are appropriate.