On a spring afternoon in New Rochelle, New York, a series of events unfolded that would end in the tragic death of 48-year-old Samuel Cruz. On May 26, 2013, Cruz's estranged wife became concerned for his well-being and contacted the police. She reported that Cruz, who had a history of mental health issues and was off his medication, was acting irrationally and would not answer the door of his apartment at 18 Hickory Street. Responding officers from the New Rochelle Police Department were able to make verbal contact with Cruz through the locked door but could not convince him to open it.
When officers eventually forced their way into the apartment, they were confronted by Cruz, who was armed with a knife. According to police, attempts to subdue him with stun guns were unsuccessful. As the situation escalated, Cruz allegedly lunged at the officers with the knife. In response, Officer Steven Geertgens fired his weapon, fatally wounding Cruz. The entire encounter took place at the threshold of Cruz's apartment. The family of Samuel Cruz would later state that he had mental health problems.
Following the shooting, an extensive investigation was launched, involving the New Rochelle Police Department, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety's Forensic Identification Unit, the Westchester County Medical Examiner's Office, and the Westchester County Department of Laboratories and Research. A grand jury was convened in November 2013 to review the evidence and determine if criminal charges were warranted against the officer involved. Over the course of its proceedings, the grand jury heard testimony from 24 witnesses, including civilians, mental health professionals who had worked with Cruz, and the police officers who were at the scene. The officer who fired the fatal shot also testified without immunity from prosecution. After deliberating on the evidence, which included the 911 audio recording and forensic analysis, the grand jury found no reasonable cause to vote for an indictment. They concluded that the officer's use of force was justified under the circumstances. In the wake of this decision, Cruz's family filed a $21 million lawsuit against the city of New Rochelle and its police department, alleging that the officers had used excessive force.
