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Jersey City police's decision to shoot 52-year-old Andrew Washington Sunday, August 27 was justified, city officials said in a press conference.
While the shooting remains under investigation by the State Attorney General's Office, Mayor Steven Fulop and Public Safety Director James Shea called on the office to release the bodycam footage as soon as possible at a press conference on Monday morning, August 28.
Washington was shot and tased by officers after he charged at them with a 6 x 8 inch blade, Fulop and Shea said. Washington was later taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
"While tragic, our police department acted appropriately," Fulop said.
Fulop and Shea, who both have viewed the bodycam footage, said the officers were from the city's emergency service unit and had been trained to deal with people having a mental health crisis.
"This was within the attorney general's guidelines for use of force," Shea said. "It won't bring Mr. Washington back. We wish it had ended differently."
Officers were concerned Washington was a threat to himself or others, Fulop and Shea said. Officers never entered the apartment as Washington charged at them as soon as they opened the door, Fulop and Shea said. A search revealed Washington was the only one inside the apartment, Fulop said.
"Mr. Washington is sick. He's not bad, he's not evil, he was sick," Shea said. "It didn't make him any less dangerous. We all wish it had ended differently. We wish there was better care for him."
Shea said a psychiatrist would not have been able to come to the scene since the area was not secure.
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