Olean Police Shooting Update: Suspect Remains in Critical Guarded Condition

State Police are working with the Cattaraugus County District Attorney’s Office, and while charges are expected, the suspect has not been charged at this time.

A man shot by police early Wednesday morning remains in guarded critical condition in the trauma intensive care unit at Erie County Medical Center, according to authorities.

New York State Police identified the suspect as Thomas A. Wright, 23, of Olean, who was reported as suicidal. Troopers initially responded to North 7th Street around 12:47 a.m. following a 911 call from a concerned family member. The caller did not mention Wright was armed but expressed concern over his well-being.

Upon locating Wright walking down the street, troopers attempted to engage him in conversation. Officials say he did not respond or cooperate, and when officers asked him to show his hands, he brandished what appeared to be a black handgun. Troopers instructed him to drop the weapon, but he instead pointed it at them, prompting all three officers—two troopers and a sergeant—to fire their weapons.

Investigators later determined the weapon was a realistic-looking BB gun, which officials stress had no apparent distinguishing features from an actual firearm. The shooting occurred at night, further complicating visibility.

Authorities continue to investigate how many rounds were fired during the encounter, which lasted approximately 11 minutes. Body-worn camera footage, which has been reviewed by officials, reportedly shows Wright raising the BB gun at officers. However, the footage and the names of the involved officers will not be released at this time due to the ongoing investigation.

State Police are working with the Cattaraugus County District Attorney’s Office, and while charges are expected, Wright has not been charged at this time.

As is standard protocol following a critical incident, all three officers involved have been placed on administrative leave while the Professional Standards Bureau conducts an internal review. The Criminal Investigations Division will handle the investigation into Wright’s actions leading up to the shooting.

Emergency response was complicated by foggy weather, which prevented an airlift. Instead, Wright was transported by ambulance from Olean General Hospital to ECMC this morning.

Officials acknowledged that Wright was known to law enforcement due to prior criminal and mental health-related incidents.

Authorities thanked Olean Police, Olean Fire, EMS, and medical staff for their response and care. State Police expressed their hope for Wright’s full recovery and reaffirmed their commitment to investigating the circumstances of the incident.