PASSAIC CITY, N.J. –The Attorney General’s Shooting Response Task Force is conducting an investigation of an officer-involved shooting that occurred shortly before midnight last night, January 31, 2019, in the City of Passaic. A male civilian, age 24, was fatally wounded. No other injuries were reported.

According to the preliminary investigation, at approximately 11:45 p.m., Passaic Police received multiple 911 calls reporting shots fired in the area of Harrison Street and Myrtle Avenue. Upon arrival, police officers immediately encountered three men near the intersection of Harrison and Myrtle. Two of the men were observed by police to be armed with handguns. The police officers immediately exited their car and confronted the men. During the encounter, one officer fired his service weapon and fatally wounded the 24-year-old Passaic man, who was armed with a handgun. Another officer fired in the direction of the second armed man. That man, who was not struck by gunfire, fled the scene on foot. The 24-year-old was transported to St. Mary’s General Hospital in Passaic, where he was pronounced dead. Police recovered a handgun from the scene. 

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

This investigation is being conducted pursuant to the recently enacted law, Senate Bill 1036, which requires that the Attorney General’s Office conduct investigations of a person’s 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.

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