In the early morning hours of July 2, 2018, a call to 911 shattered the quiet of Erwin, New York. A woman, concerned for her estranged husband who she reported was suicidal and possibly armed, reached out for help, setting in motion a tragic chain of events. Responding to this domestic disturbance were members of the New York State Police, the Steuben County Sheriff's Office, and the Corning Police Department.
Among them was 29-year-old New York State Trooper Nicholas Clark, a man described as a stellar trooper with a deep desire to help people.
Law enforcement officers established a perimeter around the residence on Welch Road and attempted to make contact with the man inside, 43-year-old Steven Kiley. Despite their efforts, communication with Kiley, a local school principal, could not be established. As crisis negotiators continued their attempts, Kiley exited the rear of the house and fired a weapon, striking Trooper Clark. A deputy sheriff risked his own life to pull the fallen trooper to safety, but the wound proved fatal.
Following the shooting of Trooper Clark, law enforcement officers later found Steven Kiley inside the home, deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The incident was a somber reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers, marking the second time in less than a year that a New York State Trooper was killed while responding to a domestic call. Nicholas Clark, a former standout football player and two-time state wrestling champion, was remembered as a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice in his service to the community he proudly called home. He is survived by his parents and a brother.
