Justified Force: The Defense of Saranac Lake Officer in Fatal Shooting

In June 2022, Saranac Lake police officers responded to a stabbing call. The officers encountered Joshua De'Miguel Kavota, who refused commands to drop a knife and charged at one of the officers. In the ensuing struggle, a second officer fired his weapon, fatally wounding Kavota.

Paul DerOhannesian, a renowned attorney with extensive experience in the defense of law enforcement officers, represented the officer involved in the shooting. DerOhannesian’s legal strategy centered on the justification defense, arguing that the officer acted in immediate self-defense due to Kavota's life-threatening behavior. By highlighting the context of the stabbing and the officer’s reasonable belief that he was in imminent danger, DerOhannesian asserted that the use of deadly force was warranted.

Following the incident, New York’s Attorney General Office of Special Investigation (OSI) reviewed the case, and no criminal charges were filed.

Paul DerOhannesian’s expertise played a critical role in ensuring the officer’s defense was presented effectively, confirming the officer acted within the bounds of the law of justification and provided vital and appropriate protection for law enforcement officers in use-of-force situations.