Pelham police officers who shot a 33-year-old Navy veteran while he was experiencing a mental health crisis were legally justified in their actions, Attorney General John Formella ruled Thursday.
Sergeant Steven Russo, Officer Joseph Sanchez and Corporal Michael Kasiske responded to a 911 call at an apartment in Pelham on May 16, 2025, at 10:20 p.m.
Sheldon Brockelbank’s girlfriend had called to report that he was intoxicated and in possession of a loaded handgun and was “threatening to kill himself” at her apartment.
Brockelank served in the Navy for two years.
The report states that when officers arrived, they could hear his girlfriend asking him to put the gun down, and also heard Brockelbank saying he would “pull the trigger” if officers entered the apartment.
A few minutes later, his girlfriend walked out of the apartment and officers continued to speak with Brockelbank about his needs and offer mental health services.
Things escalated quickly when Brockelbank fired at officers outside, then dropped the weapon, and then picked it back up. Around 11:20 p.m., Russo fired his weapon four times, Sanchez fired two times, and Corporal Kasiske fired five beanbag rounds at Brockelbank, who was described as “suicidal,” according to the report.
Brockelbank survived his wounds, having been struck twice in the pelvis and once in the stomach.
The attorney general’s office investigates every instance where a police officer uses deadly force and almost all are deemed justified. Police can legally use lethal force when they reasonably believe their lives or the lives of others are in danger.
The attorney general’s office does not offer advice on whether officers could have handled these encounters differently.
“When the Attorney General reviews the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers, he
does not investigate or opine on the particular procedures or tactics used by the officers,” the report states.
Before the 911 call was placed, the report states that Brockelbank and his girlfriend had been making efforts to obtain mental health services from several places, including the Department of Veterans Affairs.
On the day police shot him, he had received a message from the VA informing him that his request for mental health services had been denied. Following this, Brockelbank and his girlfriend went out bar hopping. After returning to the apartment, the report states that Brockelbank picked up a gun, and his girlfriend was unable to disarm him.
While officers were speaking with Brockelbank about available services, the report states that he fired eight rounds at the door outside, where the officers were standing. The bullets did not hit any of the officers.
Brockelbank then exited the apartment with a gun in his hand.
According to the report, he dropped the firearm and placed it at his feet, but officers were unable to get him to back away. The report states that Brockelbank then picked the gun up again, at which point Russo fired at him.
In an interview with investigators, Russo said that he fired because he “expressed concern not only for his safety but for that of the other involved officers and other residents in the building.”
Brockelbank was also interviewed and stated that he remembered being suicidal, that he had been drinking, and that he was aware police were present.
The report states that he told investigators he was “terrified of being shot by police” and recalled firing only one shot in their direction.
After firing, Brockelbank said he knew there was “really no other option at that point, it was either put the gun down and walk outside, or see it to the end, and seeing how I was already suicidal, having made that decision, I took it to the end.”
