Police shoot Broome man who allegedly threatened them with gun

PHOTOGRAPHER: Michael Goot

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A Broome man was shot and killed by police Sunday after he threatened officers with a shotgun.

State troopers and Schoharie County sheriff’s deputies received a call about a domestic dispute at 554 State Route 145. When they arrived, they found 27-year-old Richard Welden armed with a shotgun. Officers ordered Welden to drop his weapon but he refused, according to police.

Welden repeatedly failed to comply with multiple requests by officers to drop his weapon. He then fired at officers, who returned fire. Welden was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation is continuing. State police spokeswoman Maureen Tuffey could not be reached for comment. A press conference will be held Monday at the state police barracks in Cobleskill.

This was the third officer-involved shooting in the Capital Region during the last few months. On Aug. 12, Schenectady police killed 32-year-old Luis Rivera, who was pointing a gun at police on State Street near Grove Place. Rivera had been reportedly angry about two or three men surrounding him on Hamilton Hill, punching him and stealing valuable items the previous day. Rivera came back the next day waving a gun around on State Street. When police responded, Sgt. William Fennell tried to grab Rivera by the shirt but he got away and reached for his gun. Rivera then took a few steps away, turned and motioned at the officers with his gun. The three police officers then fired 14 shots, killing him.

In Colonie on July 20, Colonie police shot 21-year-old Agostino Jubrey of 2 Leach Ave. Jubrey had been involved in a hit-and-run accident in Columbia County earlier that day. Police ran Jubrey’s license plate and were led to his address, where he was fighting with his mother and stepfather. Jubrey fired two or three shots and hit his stepfather in the hand.

Jubrey got into his car and tried to back out but crashed into a patrol car. He fired several shots in the direction of the officers and the Columbia County sheriff’s deputies. Colonie Officer Daniel Belles then shot Jubrey in the head. He died two days later.