Off-duty Ramapo police officer accused of shooting neighbor in Cornwall
CORNWALL, Orange County (WABC) -- An off-duty police officer is accused of shooting and killing his neighbor in Orange County, New York.
It happened during an argument Monday night near their homes on Main Street in Cornwall.
Local police and state troopers were at the scene all day Tuesday.
The alleged shooter is an off-duty Ramapo town police officer, identified by neighbors as Robert Fitzgerald.
No charges have been filed, pending a grand jury investigation.
The nature of the dispute remains unclear, but a knife was discovered at the scene.
"It appears that he was taking no action on behalf of the state, in his official capacity as a police officer, a Ramapo officer, or in any other capacity for Orange County law enforcement," Orange County DA David Hoovler said. "So that kind of changes it a little. It's a little different than what you would normally get."
RELATED: Off-duty officer charged in shooting on Long Island
The case will be presented to a grand jury, but because of the coronavirus pandemic, that grand jury is not meeting currently.
They are hoping to resume in the next two weeks, but there is reportedly a backlog of hundreds of cases.
The detective has been placed on administrative duty.
----------
