***UPDATED WITH IDENTITIES OF DECEDENT AND OFFICERS ***

Edison, N.J. – The Attorney General’s Office is conducting an investigation of an officer-involved shooting that occurred on April 12, 2022, in Edison, N.J. The decedent has been identified as Merrill Rambarose, 49, of Edison.  

The officers who fired their service weapons at Mr. Rambarose are Officer Daniel Bradley and Officer Joseph Elqumos of the Edison Police Department.

According to the preliminary investigation, the shooting occurred shortly after 3:45 p.m. on Judson Street in Edison, N.J. Edison Police Officers were called to a residence where they encountered Mr. Rambarose in a parking lot of the residential area. During the encounter, two officers discharged their service weapons, fatally wounding Mr. Rambarose. A short-handled axe was recovered near Mr. Rambarose. Officers and emergency medical personnel rendered first aid to Mr. Rambarose, who was pronounced deceased on scene via telemetry at 4:41 p.m.

This investigation is being conducted pursuant to Attorney General Directive 2019-4, which implements the statutory requirement that the Attorney General’s Office conduct the investigation of any death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody, and which establishes clear standards and procedures for conducting such investigations.

The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time.

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