James Dellea Hillsdale Death – A 48-year-old Hillsdale man, identified as James A. Dellea, is dead following an officer-involved shooting that has sparked an investigation by the New York State Police.
The tragic incident occurred on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 11, 2024, after law enforcement officers responded to a distress call regarding a man threatening self-harm.
At approximately 4:00 p.m., New York State Troopers were dispatched to locate Dellea, who had reportedly made threats to harm himself. The authorities eventually tracked him to a parking lot at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway located on State Route 9 in the Town of Malta, New York.
However, when officers approached Dellea, he refused to cooperate with their commands, according to a statement issued by the New York State Police.
Upon their arrival, officers asked Dellea to exit his vehicle, but he allegedly disregarded their commands, which prompted him to flee the scene in his car.
A low-speed pursuit ensued, with troopers trailing him across Saratoga County. The chase ended when Dellea stopped in the parking lot of Bethel Saratoga, located at 3246 State Route 9 in Saratoga Springs.
According to the police account, despite multiple attempts to de-escalate the situation, Dellea again refused to exit his vehicle, further heightening tensions. During the standoff, police say Dellea brandished a firearm, escalating the situation and posing a threat to the officers. At that point, one of the troopers discharged his weapon, fatally striking Dellea. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.