New Paltz Police Chief Joseph Snyder has provided some additional information on two high-profile cases. The alleged Route 32 South shooter — who has been named by some news sources, but not by any official source including the town police — has not yet been charged. According to Snyder, he has been moved out of intensive care, but is not yet responsive enough to be arraigned. The chief said that no additional information is available about whether the shooter was injured by his own weapon, or shots fired by an officer in response to being fired upon during the standoff on October 24. State police are investigating the officer’s weapon discharge, and that officer has returned to duty after briefly being placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure in such cases. Snyder said that the investigation is not considered a priority.
Rail trail death
Usman Shakil, the 20-year-old college student found dead near the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail last Monday, likely perished due to “improper use of his prescribed medication,” Snyder said. That information comes from the preliminary report, but Snyder does not expect the final version to show anything different. It does not appear that the temperature that night was a factor, he added.
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