NEW YORK CITY -- The family of an off-duty parole officer shot and killed by a Canandaigua city police officer says they want state leaders to take over the investigation into her death.
The family of Sandy Guardiola spoke Saturday morning from Reverend Al Sharpton's National Action Network in New York City.
State police say Guardiola was shot during a welfare check after the parole officer did not show up for work. They say Sgt. Scott Kadien reported the parole officer fired her service weapon and he returned fire three times, fatally wounding her. He was not hurt.
Guardiola's son Andrew Ocasio detailed his mother's battle with stage four breast cancer, twice. He said she moved to Canandaigua to get out of New York City. He adds his mother suffered broken ribs in a crash that kept her out of work for weeks.
Ocasio said since her colleagues knew about her injuries, he's not sure why a city officer was sent to check on her. Investigators claim attempts to reach Guardiola were unsuccessful, which is why Sgt. Kadien was let into her apartment by property management. The family says even though state police are handling the investigation, they believe troopers cannot be impartial.
"We question how any investigation by local investigators, including a district attorney, could ever be truly impartial," Andrew Ocasio said. "Yesterday's press conference just confirmed those concerns. The officials who spoke did so on Kadien's behalf and not my mothers. We call on Governor Cuomo and New York State Attorney General Schneiderman to take over this investigation."
New York State Police gave an update on the October shooting Friday. According to state police the mother of two was shot three times and Sergeant Kadien was in fear for his life. Canandaigua Police Chief Stephen Hedworth added that Sergeant Kadien "acted appropriately that day". Chief Hedworth also sent his condolences to the Guardiola family.
“He saw the gun displayed, she fired, said New York State Police Captain Carolyn Mullin. This has nothing to do with race. This was an officer going to check the welfare of an officer. He had no indication that this was going to turn into a shooting.”
Reverend Al Sharpton says he plans to travel to the area soon to help the Guardiola family get the answers they deserve.
"We are putting the full weight that we can behind this family and demanding to know and demanding to establish justice in this matter," said Rev. Al Sharpton. "Let me be real clear. Me and the National Action Network don't just jump on every case. We look into whether there is cause for concern."
Investigators say there is no bodycam or surveillance video of the incident. They add Guardiola was taking some medication and they're still waiting for toxicology results to come in. Sgt. Kadien is on administrative leave. All the evidence will be presented to a grand jury.