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On March 22, 2025, staff at the Hudson County Correctional Facility found Derrick Ellis, 63, unresponsive in his cell in the medical unit at approximately 12:15 p.m. Officers and onsite medical personnel transported him to Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 1:30 p.m. The cause of death has not been publicly disclosed. The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.

https://patch.com/new-jersey/hoboken/man-dies-after-being-found-hudson-county-jail-prosecutor
https://www.nj.com/hudson/2025/03/jersey-city-man-dies-in-hudson-county-jail-authorities-investigating.html
https://hudsoncountyview.com/prosecutors-office-investigating-death-of-63-year-old-hudson-county-inmate/
https://patch.com/new-jersey/hoboken/man-dies-after-being-found-hudson-county-jail-prosecutor?utm_

On March 22, 2025, a man was found unresponsive at the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny, New Jersey. The individual was discovered around 12:15 p.m. and transported to Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 1:27 p.m. The identity of the man has not been released. The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit is investigating the circumstances of the death.

https://www.theobserver.com/2025/03/22/hcpo-inmate-found-dead-in-county-jail-in-south-kearny/
https://patch.com/new-jersey/hoboken/man-dies-after-being-found-hudson-county-jail-prosecutor
https://hudsoncountyview.com/prosecutors-office-investigating-death-of-63-year-old-hudson-county-inmate/
https://www.theobserver.com/2025/03/22/hcpo-inmate-found-dead-in-county-jail-in-south-kearny/

On 03/10/2025, at approximately 4:45 p.m., John Adamo, 54, shot his neighbors, Tom and Jill Kwatkoski, following a prolonged dispute. Adamo shot Tom outside his home and then shot Jill inside their residence. Both victims were airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in critical but stable condition. After the shooting, Adamo barricaded himself inside his home, leading to a two-and-a-half-hour standoff with the Berkeley Township Police Department's SWAT team. When officers forced entry, they found Adamo dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in an upstairs bedroom. A pressure cooker located near him was determined not to be an explosive device. Neighbors reported Adamo had longstanding conflicts with the victims.

https://nypost.com/2025/03/11/us-news/jersey-shore-shooter-feuded-with-neighbors-over-security-cameras/
https://people.com/nj-man-allegedly-shot-neighbors-in-attempted-double-murder-11695253
https://nypost.com/2025/03/11/us-news/new-jersey-man-shoots-wounds-neighbor-couple-then-kills-self-in-shocking-attack/

On March 7, 2025, at approximately 10:58 PM, Toms River Township Police and Seaside Heights Police chased a juvenile driver in a white BMW. Police escalated the chase for failure to stop, reaching a documented speed of 118 mph. The juvenile crashed into a Toyota Camry at the intersection of Route 37 and Route 166. The driver and front-seat passenger of the Camry were killed on impact. Two backseat passengers sustained critical injuries and were transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

https://dailyvoice.com/nj/toms-river/juvenile-hit-118-mph-in-police-pursuit-that-left-two-people-dead-in-toms-river-prosecutor/
https://www.ozarksfirst.com/news/springfield-police-ambulance-reports/

On March 7, 2025, at approximately 10:58 PM, Toms River Township Police and Seaside Heights Police chased a juvenile driver in a white BMW. Police escalated the chase for failure to stop, reaching a documented speed of 118 mph. The juvenile crashed into a Toyota Camry at the intersection of Route 37 and Route 166. The driver and front-seat passenger of the Camry were killed on impact. Two backseat passengers sustained critical injuries and were transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

https://dailyvoice.com/nj/toms-river/juvenile-hit-118-mph-in-police-pursuit-that-left-two-people-dead-in-toms-river-prosecutor/
https://www.ozarksfirst.com/news/springfield-police-ambulance-reports/

On December 19, 2024, Raritan Township Police officers attempted to stop a 19-year-old male driver for a traffic violation on Route 202 in Raritan Township, New Jersey. The driver fled, leading officers on a high-speed pursuit. Police claim they terminated the chase due to safety concerns. Shortly thereafter, the driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed, resulting in his death. The exact duration between the termination of the pursuit and the crash has not been disclosed. The Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office is investigating the incident.

https://www.nj.com/hunterdon/2024/12/nj-driver-killed-in-crash-was-being-chased-by-cops-minutes-earlier-officials-say.html

Guttenberg PD were called to a disturbance and chased a man on foot until he fell off of an embankment. He was found dead at the bottom.

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/new-jersey/man-dies-fall-embankment-chase-police-guttenberg/5989048/

On November 2, 2024, Keith Edelin was fatally shot by Haddon Township police officers after they responded to a call about an active burglary in progress. Officers, including Officer Luke Falkenberg, arrived at the scene on West Crystal Lake Avenue to find Edelin armed with a knife. According to reports, Edelin approached the officers with the weapon, prompting them to use lethal force. Edelin was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is under investigation by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.

https://www.fox29.com/news/man-armed-knife-killed-officer-involved-shooting-haddon-township-police
https://www.njoag.gov/attorney-generals-office-investigating-fatal-police-involved-shooting-in-haddon-township/

A 51 year-old male pedestrian was hit and killed by a Paterson Police Department cruiser. The man died from severe injuries to his head and arm.

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/paterson/sections/police-and-fire/articles/pedestrian-killed-in-accident-involving-paterson-police-officer

Pemberton Township police officers responded to reports of smoke coming from a house on Woodland Avenue around 3:30 PM. Upon arrival, they learned that Marvin Taylor, 57, was in the backyard armed with a firearm. Officer Kyle McQueen engaged in a shootout with Taylor. McQueen shot and killed Taylor during the exchange. Taylor was treated at the scene and flown to Cooper University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A firearm was located near Taylor's body. The incident is under investigation by the New Jersey Attorney General's office.

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/active-shooter-report-pemberton-township-burlington-county-new-jersey/4004137/
https://www.phillytrib.com/news/officials-release-details-of-fatal-pemberton-township-police-shooting/article_255b2d7b-e548-5c31-85f7-dfbdb7d1161e.html

Sergeant Keith Gunther of the East Hanover PD was found to have been driving drunk when he hit another vehicle and killed two bystanders on October 15, 2024. He was charged with vehicular homicide.

TOTAL NUMBER OF FATALITIES DURING THIS POLICE ENCOUNTER: 2

https://www.nj.com/morris/2024/10/nj-police-sergeant-charged-in-fatal-riverdale-crash.html

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/east-hanover-slash-florham-park/sections/police-and-fire/articles/east-hanover-police-sergeant-faces-charges-after-motor-vehicle-accident-kills-another-passenger

Police allege they saw man who appeared to be armed retreat into a home and lock himself in. Police brought SWAT and escalated a standoff that ended on police discovered that the man had died from suicide under police duress.

https://www.nj.com/cumberland/2024/10/2-hour-police-standoff-ends-with-man-dying-by-suicide-in-nj-home-authorities-say.html

Corrections officer Addiel Ortiz crashed his motorcycle into a family vehicle, killing Easton Beisler in the backseat. The officer died also.

https://breakingac.com/news/2024/sep/13/9-year-old-corrections-officer-killed-in-vineland-crash/

Fort Lee PD were sent to assist in a mental health crisis. They allege that they found a "woman with a knife" after forcing entry into a home. Police shot and killed her in her home. The family strongly disputes the police narrative. Lee's brother states that the family answered the routine question dispatchers ask whether a person has access to weapons and the family said she has a small folding pocket knife. She was no longer holding it and was holding only a water bottle when killed, not threatening anyone with it when police arrived and shot her, according to the family.

https://www.nj.com/bergen/2024/07/police-fatally-shoot-woman-after-mental-health-crisis-call-authorities-say.html

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/woman-experiencing-mental-health-crisis-shot-killed-by-police-in-fort-lee-nj-officials-say/3925874/

https://abc7ny.com/post/investigation-underway-after-woman-killed-police-fort-lee/15116059/

Bodycam:
https://abc7ny.com/post/attorney-generals-office-releases-bodycam-video-25-year-old-woman-fatally-shot-fort-lee-police/15193781/

Upon reviewing available information, the incident on July 23, 2024, involved a police pursuit initiated by Bloomfield Police Department detectives after identifying a vehicle linked to a robbery investigation. The pursuit began in Bloomfield and concluded in East Orange, New Jersey. The driver of the pursued vehicle crashed into another car and subsequently into two additional vehicles, including a parked ambulance, resulting in fatal injuries to the driver. Two other drivers sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Initial reports suggested a pedestrian fatality; however, subsequent official statements clarified that the deceased was the driver of the pursued vehicle, not a pedestrian.
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As of the latest available information, the identity of the deceased driver has not been publicly disclosed. The New Jersey Attorney General's Office is conducting an ongoing investigation into the incident.
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Last update: November 21, 2024

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/east-orange-nj-police-pursuit-crash-pedestrian-killed/
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/high-speed-police-pursuit-new-jersey-dead-east-orange/5625487/

Maxwell Johnston was wanted for a prior homicide and he hid at the house of a woman until police caught up with him. He died of suicide under police duress.

https://www.nj.com/ocean/2024/07/standoff-in-nj-home-ends-with-accused-killer-dead-woman-charged-with-harboring-fugitive-cops-say.html

Woodbridge PD surrounded a location to try to make an arrest for a previous attempted murder when the man came out of the hotel with a gun. Police shot and killed him.

https://abc7ny.com/post/new-jersey-shooting-police-woodbridge-investigate-reports-shots/14943121/

https://www.nj.com/middlesex/2024/06/murder-suspect-killed-in-nj-hotel-lobby-shootout-with-police-identified.html

Deanna D’Arco, a 19-year-old from Sussex Borough, New Jersey, was killed following a car collision involving an on-duty Franklin Borough Police Sergeant William Grissom. The incident occurred on May 27, 2024, near the intersection of Route 23 and Walsh Street. D’Arco was a passenger in a vehicle that collided with the police officer's marked car. She sustained critical injuries and passed away two days later on May 29, 2024.
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The crash remains under investigation by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, which is responsible for determining if any legal actions against the officer are warranted under state law.

https://debarylife.com/tragic-accident-19-year-old-girl-dies-after-collision-with-franklin-police-officer/

https://www.lawyertime.com/woman-killed-in-franklin-car-accident-with-police-vehicle /

Keansburg PD were sent to a residence on Seabreeze way for a mental health check on Willem Roman, found him with a running chainsaw and fire tasers at him. He suffered a medical emergency and was taken to the hospital where he died.

https://www.njoag.gov/ags-office-investigating-officer-involved-shooting-in-keansburg-n-j/

https://www.app.com/story/news/crime/2024/07/01/chainsaw-wielding-man-shot-by-keansburg-cop-on-memorial-day-identified/74270165007/

Princeton PD were sent on a mental health welfare check of a man with a gun. When police arrived, it is unknown how they approached the man but police entered the garage and claim that he shot himself and died of suicide when confronted by police.

https://www.wevv.com/news/crime/police-man-dies-of-self-inflicted-gunshot-wound-after-opening-fire-on-officers-in-princeton/article_11ce0e22-1841-11ef-bd52-373e8edea753.html

On April 19, 2024, 47-year-old John H. Cassidy, affectionately known as "Little John," died during an encounter with law enforcement at a gas station on Route 37 near West End Avenue in Toms River, New Jersey. The incident began around 1 p.m. when Island Heights Police Officer Peter Muscarella stopped Cassidy for expired vehicle registration and discovered two outstanding arrest warrants against him. Despite multiple requests, Cassidy refused to exit his vehicle, citing panic and asthma attacks. The situation escalated, leading officers to forcibly remove him from the car. During the arrest, Cassidy experienced a medical episode, became unresponsive, and was later pronounced dead at Community Medical Center at 2:25 p.m.
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The New Jersey Attorney General's Office released body camera footage of the incident, showing the interaction between Cassidy and the officers. The Office of Public Integrity and Accountability is investigating the incident, with findings to be presented to a grand jury to determine if charges are warranted.
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John H. Cassidy was a devoted father to his daughter, Genice "GeGe" Cassidy, and cherished his family and friends. He enjoyed quad riding and mixed martial arts. His obituary notes his legacy of laughter, kindness, and love for family.
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NUMBER OF CASUALTIES DURING THIS POLICE ENCOUNTER: 1 fatality.
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Last Update: 11/29/2024

1. https://www.app.com/story/news/2024/11/27/bodycam-footage-shows-police-involved-death-of-john-cassidy/76622636007/
2. https://www.njoag.gov/update-ags-office-releases-body-worn-camera-footage-from-investigation-into-november-21-2024-fatal-police-involved-shooting-in-toms-river-n-j/
3. https://www.yahoo.com/news/bodycam-video-shows-jersey-man-164600915.html

A man on a scooter was run over and killed by an off-duty Ocean Township officer.

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/police-officer-scooter-crash-new-jersey/3833972/

https://www.njoag.gov/update-ags-office-releases-identities-of-the-decedent-and-ocean-township-police-officer-involved-in-fatal-crash-in-ocean-township-n-j-on-april-15-2024/

A New Jersey State Police trooper collided with a motorcyclist, killing the motorcyclist.

https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/local/south-jersey/2024/04/10/motorcyclist-dies-in-route-70-collision-nj-state-police-vehicle-southampton/73270308007/

Hamilton Township PD arrived at a domestic violence call, engaged in a shootout with a man armed with a rifle, and shot and killed him.

https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/orchard-ave-hamilton-nj-officer-hospitalized-after-shot-in-hamilton-township/

Bodycam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKMk6UoiA_Q

Police tried to traffic-stop a vehicle that fled and crashed, killing the driver. After the crash, police stated they did not know if they were chasing him or not.

https://patch.com/new-jersey/gloucestertownship/man-died-crash-after-nj-police-tried-stop-his-vehicle-ag

Armond Avitable had allegedly shot and killed a woman and fled without the gun. Police located him and apparently beat him and he died during arrest. It was discovered by the Morris County medical examiner that he had a gunshot wound to the torso, apparently also inflicted during arrest.

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/phillipsburg/sections/police-and-fire/articles/warren-county-nj-pennsylvania-man-dies-in-police-custody-victim-dies-after-shooting-in-domestic-dispute

Raul Diaz was on his bicycle on Willow Grove Street and Brock Hollow Drive when he was run over and killed by a police cruiser by New Jersey State trooper Kesene Grier.

https://patch.com/new-jersey/hackettstown/officials-id-cyclist-trooper-involved-fatal-hackettstown-crash

https://www.rlsmedia.com/article/update-cyclist-fatally-struck-nj-state-police-vehicle-hackettstown-identified

Agents from the US Marshals Service and ATF arrived at a motel on Promenade Boulevard to arrest a man for undisclosed felony offenses. They engaged in a shootout with the man and shot and killed him. Police did not identify him publicly.

https://midjersey.news/2024/01/24/ags-office-investigating-fatal-police-involved-shooting-in-south-brunswick/

https://www.njoag.gov/update-ags-office-identifies-decedent-killed-in-police-involved-shooting-at-south-brunswick-motel-on-january-24-2024/

A 55-year-old pedestrian was crossing the road at West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway near Celebration Avenue on Sunday morning around 1:15 when he was hit and killed by an Osceola County police cruiser.

https://www.wesh.com/article/pedestrian-killed-in-crash-involving-deputy/46257839

Cranford PD chased an allegedly stolen car that crashed on the Garden State Parkway. A man emerged and a shootout between him and 2 officers ensued per police. He was shot and killed.

https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/newjersey/driver-dies-in-shootout-officer-injured-after-stolen-vehicle-crashes-on-garden-state-parkway/article_87fa6592-a761-11ee-8b1c-5fd27e58969e.html

https://www.njoag.gov/update-ags-office-releases-video-from-ongoing-investigation-of-december-28-2023-fatal-police-involved-shooting-on-the-parkway-in-woodbridge-n-j/

Bodycams:
https://njoag.app.box.com/s/q0so00a1u4lbh1x005yy7gch4nuewvf5

Elizabeth PD were sent to a “shots fired” call and began chasing a vehicle they felt to be responsible, escalated the chase until it crashed into a third party motorist, killing Ysabel Gonzalez Morales and Juan Carlos Alvear Carillo in a taxi.

https://www.rlsmedia.com/article/update-attorney-generals-office-probes-crash-involving-police-pursuit-killed-two-elizabeth

Elizabeth PD were sent to a “shots fired” call and began chasing a vehicle they felt to be responsible, escalated the chase until it crashed into a third party motorist, killing Ysabel Gonzalez Morales and Juan Carlos Alvear Carillo in a taxi.

https://www.rlsmedia.com/article/update-attorney-generals-office-probes-crash-involving-police-pursuit-killed-two-elizabeth

Manchester PD were sent to a domestic disturbance. They arrived and shot and killed a man. His identity and circumstances leading to his death have not been released so far.

https://www.app.com/story/news/local/2023/12/06/fatal-police-manchester-shooting-under-investigation/71829291007/

https://lnnnews.com/parties-in-manchester-police-shooting-idd/

An on-duty police officer driving a police vehicle hit and killed a pedestrian at 2:30 a.m. on White Horse Pike in Atco. The name of the officer and victim were both withheld by police. It is unknown what the cause of the crash was.

https://6abc.com/pedestrian-struck-in-atco-waterford-township-police-department-new-jersey-attorney-generals-office-man-killed-on-white-horse-pike/14108917/

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/nj-ag-bodycam-footage-waterford-twp-officer-hits-kills-man/3914663/

New Jersey State Police escalated a chase against a vehicle that refused to stop and chased them until they crashed into a garbage truck and Pierre Tanis died.

https://www.media.com/article/police-pursuit-ends-deadly-crash-newark

An unnamed man who had been involved in a motor vehicle accident was brought to the New Jersey State Police Bellmawr station for suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He was released and made it to the bathroom of the police station lobby where he was found slumped over and dead from an unknown medical emergency, suggesting that either injuries from the crash or a significant overdose may have gone unnoticed during police processing after the crash. Police allege that he was no longer in custody when found dead in the police station.

https://www.njoag.gov/attorney-generals-office-investigating-fatality-in-lobby-bathroom-at-new-jersey-state-police-bellmawr-station/

*** UPDATE 10/13/2023: Totowa PD are reported as stonewalling and locking up evidence in an Internal Investigation when they refused repeatedly to relinquish radio calls. They are also refusing to answer the question to this day, weeks after the fatal crash, why they were chasing David Lucero.

Paterson PD chased a person on a scooter for reasons they did not disclose until the scooter crashed into a vehicle and the driver died. Activists began protesting after the crash, stating that police hunt motorists for a sport and PDs from other jurisdictions such as in this case had a habit of hunting motorists in Paterson. BLM Paterson and other groups have been keeping the case visible.

Police did not release the name and identity of their chase victim nor the reason why this happened.The Attorney General's office issued a vague statement, also avoiding mention why the moped had been chased at all. “If the person did something wrong, they would have said it already,” stated Paterson Black Lives Matter organizer Zellie Thomas.

One day after the fatal crash, Paterson PD announced new, more restricted, guidelines in their own pursuit policies that govern police chases.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/paterson-press/2023/09/21/paterson-nj-crash-involving-scooter-leaves-1-dead/70920725007/

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/paterson-press/2023/09/23/nj-ag-quiet-on-why-totowa-cops-chased-scooter-driver-in-fatal-crash/70945414007/

https://patch.com/new-jersey/wayne/moped-rider-dies-after-police-chase-passaic-county-

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/passaic/paterson/2023/09/28/totowa-nj-police-chase-man-moped-died-paterson/70996168007/

Long Branch PD responded to a 911 call about a break-in on August 14, 2023 with an armed person. Long Branch Patrol officer Lucas Brito rushed to the scene and collided with a car, killing a woman. The car he had run into was the car of the alleged burglar. The passenger, Tracee Blount, 38, was killed.

https://www.nj.com/monmouth/2023/10/investigators-id-passenger-of-accused-armed-burglars-car-who-died-in-crash-with-cop.html

https://www.nj.com/monmouth/2023/08/woman-killed-in-crash-with-police-car-officials-say.html

https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-tracee-blount

Andrew Jerome Washington was in an agitated state, having a mental health crisis when police appeared with SWAT and according to the family, they escalated an already tense situation. Washington had a knife in his hand when he stepped toward the invading SWAT officers. They shot and killed him. It is believed that this took place inside of his home. Family members state that he had once had a mental health crisis 12 years prior and that he had been shot in his arm then and he became defensive and agitated when SWAT attacked him in his home during the fatal attack. Neighbors and witnesses were critical of the police handling of the situation.

https://abc7ny.com/nj-police-shooting-jersey-city-involved-mental-health/13710369/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TElX5cfHi1E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6j06hpln-k

https://abc7ny.com/nj-police-shooting-jersey-city-involved-mental-health/13710369/

Police chased a vehicle they felt responsible for a burglary and collided with the car, killing passenger Tracee Jahlees Marie Blount.

https://dailyvoice.com/new-jersey/monmouth/passenger-tied-to-overnight-home-invasion-dies-in-crash-with-long-branch-police-car-njag/

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/long-branch/articles/attorney-general-s-office-investigating-fatal-crash-involving-police-vehicle-in-long-branch-n-j