Rochester police release bodycam of the fatal shooing of Todd Novick, who had a replica gun
By: The Office of Attorney General Letitia James released video of a deadly police shooting on Christmas Eve in Rochester Tuesday.
Rochester police fatally shot Todd Novick, 46, around 8:30 a.m. on December 24 on Murray Street. Investigators said officers were called to the scene for reports of a man with a gun.
The 1:47 video released by the AG’s office Tuesday includes 20 seconds of footage and audio after the shooting omitted from the video previously released by the Rochester Police Department.
It begins with an officer identified as Officer Celiberti approaching the scene in a vehicle. Novick is standing with at least one other person, who has been blurred from the video.
“What’s going on today,” the officer says.
“Just walking this way,” an unidentified person says. “We’re not staying long.”
Novick tells the officer he’s going to work at a mechanic shop. The officer asks what he does there, and Novick says he works on cars.
“So what are you guys doing right here though,” the officer says.
“I was passing by, and we were talking,” Novick says. “I can’t [unintelligible] go by and talk?”
Another RPD patrol car pulls up to the scene, and Officer Celiberti says, “we’ve got some weird calls, man.”
At that point, Novick walks around the blurred person or people, away from the officer who just arrived. Officer Celiberti begins asking him to hang on a minute, but Novick sprints away.
The officer gives chase. Within four seconds, Novick appears to lift up his shirt and reach for his waistband. The officer aims their weapon and orders Novick to stop
As Novick turns the corner, he appears to have something in his hand. The officer says “drop the gun, drop the-” then shoots five times.
Novick collapses in the driveway and rolls over onto his back. The officer orders him to get on his stomach and put his hands behind his back.
“On your stomach now! On your stomach now! Hands behind your back. Hands behind your back. Other hand behind your back. Hand behind your [expletive] back!
“I was trying to put it down,” Novick says when a second officer approaches and begins handcuffing him.
Police call for backup, saying a male is down, and a handgun is recovered. The video ends there.
Novick was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police later said the handgun was a replica.