New York State Police fatally shoot man with BB gun in Greene County

A New York State Trooper fatally shot 45-year-old Amir Hamza during an incident at the Whip-O-Will Campground in the town of Cairo on September 14, 2026.

State Police responded to the campground following a report of an assault. Upon arrival, troopers encountered a man with a head injury who directed them to a nearby camper. As officers approached the camper, Hamza exited and pointed what appeared to be a black handgun at a trooper while advancing toward them. The trooper fired his service weapon, striking Hamza, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators have since revealed that the weapon Hamza was holding was actually a black pistol-style BB gun, not a real handgun. The man who was injured in the initial reported assault was transported to Albany Medical Center and is reported to be in stable condition. The shooting is currently being investigated by the New York Attorney General’s Office and the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation.