Syracuse, NY -- A Centro bus video captured the shootout between two Syracuse police officers and a parolee in front of a South Side laundromat in April 2009. The video was released a day after a detective, shot twice by the parolee, revealed its existence while receiving an award from Mayor Stephanie Miner. The parolee, James Tyson, was killed...
Syracuse, NY -- A Centro bus video captured the shootout between two Syracuse police officers and a parolee in front of a South Side laundromat in April 2009.
The video was released a day after a detective, shot twice by the parolee, revealed its existence while receiving an award from Mayor Stephanie Miner. The parolee, James Tyson, was killed during the shootout.
Detective Richard Curran said the video showed the 23 seconds that changed his life forever.
In the video, a South Salina Street bus pulls up to a traffic light as gunshots pierce the air.
One passenger is heard yelling, "He's shooting! Oh my God! Oh my God!" Another: "Get down! Get down!" Others scream.
In a second video of the bus's interior, a woman with a young child dives onto the floor. Some watch the shooting out the windows, jarring at the gunshots.
Curran can be seen in the far left of the video crouching behind a parked car, which has its lights on.
This is what happened, according to police:
Curran and Detective Ed Falkowski had pulled over the parolee's car in the parking lot of the Colonial Laundromat on suspicion the parolee, James Tyson, was carrying a handgun.
Tyson struggled with the officers, and Falkowski shoots him with a Taser. Tyson grunted at the Taser shot, then pulled out a .357 Magnum and fired next to Falkowski's ear.
Falkowski, who was also honored by Miner Monday, sustained a broken ear drum from the blast. He fell to the ground and began returning fire at Tyson, police records state.
Curran ran for cover behind a parked car. Before he made it, he was shot in his lower back and right side, according to records. When he got behind the car, he, too started firing until he ran out of ammunition.
The remainder of the gunfight can be heard, but not seen, on the video. Falkowski began chasing Tyson, who turned and pointed his gun at Falkowski from about 25 feet away.
Falkowski crouched and fired. Tyson stumbled backwards and threw his handgun at Falkowski, causing it to land behind the officer.
Ambulances took both officers and Tyson to the hospital. Tyson was pronounced dead 27 minutes after the shooting began.
Previous coverage
» Two Syracuse detectives get heroes' welcome after return from D.C. (5/17/2010)
» Details of harrowing Syracuse police shootout with parolee released (1/17/2010)
» Grand jury clears Syracuse police officers in fatal shooting (4/29/2009)
» Slain shooter's family offers condolences, seeks answers (4/15/2009)
» Syracuse cop shot, suspect killed in gunfight (4/13/2009)
» Complete coverage of the story
Videos :
» Top Cops: Curran and Falkowski (5/17/2010)
» Chief Miguel talks about second officer injury in shoot-out (4/14/2009)
» Cop shot and man killed in South Side shootout (4/13/2009)