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Andrew Jerome Washington

Age : 52

Gender : Male

Race : Black

Date : 08/27/2023

Location : 200 block of Randolph Avenue

City : Jersey City

County : Hudson

State : New Jersey

Agency : Jersey City Police Department

Officer(s) :David N. Anderson, Francine Graham, Stephen Gigante

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during mental health crisis and wellness response

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/27/2023, Jersey City Medical Center personnel contacted police concerning Andrew Jerome Washington, 52, who was experiencing a mental health crisis inside his apartment on Randolph Avenue in Jersey City. Washington's family told authorities that a neighbor had heard loud noises and banging from his apartment and contacted relatives. His family explained to responding officers that Washington was experiencing a psychiatric crisis and needed medical assistance.
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Jersey City police arrived at approximately 2:36 p.m. and spoke with Washington's relatives outside the residence. Police attempted to communicate with Washington through his closed apartment door. Washington remained inside, and officers ultimately requested the department's Emergency Services Unit.
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Emergency Services Unit officers arrived and continued attempting to communicate with Washington through the closed door for more than 30 minutes. Officer Stephen Gigante was among the ESU officers communicating with Washington. The encounter was recorded by police body-worn cameras, and the New Jersey Attorney General later publicly released the recordings along with the relevant telephone call and police radio transmissions.
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At approximately 3:28 p.m., ESU officers forced open Washington's apartment door. According to the Attorney General's investigation, Washington was holding an approximately 13-inch knife and advanced toward the officers as the door opened. Officer Felix DeJesus deployed his Taser at Washington while Officer Stephen Gigante simultaneously fired his service weapon twice, striking Washington twice.
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Emergency medical personnel who had remained outside were brought into the apartment and provided medical treatment. Washington was transported to Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 4:47 p.m.
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Washington's family strongly criticized the police response. His aunt, Lisa Mendez, said the family had sought help for Washington during a mental health emergency and expected authorities to assist him rather than kill him. Family members said Washington had a longstanding history of mental illness and questioned why armed police officers rather than an appropriate mental-health crisis response ultimately confronted him.
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The circumstances were especially significant because this was not Washington's first violent encounter with Jersey City police during a mental health crisis. His family reported that approximately 12 years earlier, Jersey City police had shot Washington in the arm during another confrontation. He survived that earlier police shooting.
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The New Jersey Attorney General's Office of Public Integrity and Accountability conducted the investigation into Washington's death. Investigators examined the 911 call, body-camera recordings, witness interviews, photographs, ballistics evidence and autopsy findings. Under New Jersey law, the fatal police shooting was then presented to a state grand jury.
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Washington's family subsequently filed a federal civil-rights and wrongful-death lawsuit against Jersey City, individual police officers, Jersey City Medical Center and other defendants. The lawsuit named Gigante, DeJesus and several other Jersey City officers and supervisors involved in the response. In June 2025, a federal judge granted portions of defendants' motions to dismiss while allowing other portions of the litigation to proceed.
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On 04/28/2025, the state grand jury completed its review and returned a no bill, declining to indict Officer Stephen Gigante. The New Jersey Attorney General announced the decision the following day.
OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Stephen Gigante was the Jersey City Emergency Services Unit officer who fired the two gunshots that killed Washington. Felix DeJesus deployed the Taser simultaneously but did not fire the fatal gunshots. Gigante therefore belongs in the Officer(s) field as the shooting officer.
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Gigante's shooting of Washington underwent the mandatory New Jersey Attorney General investigation and state-grand-jury review. On 04/28/2025, the grand jury declined to indict Gigante after reviewing evidence that included body-camera video, witness testimony, photographs, ballistics evidence and autopsy findings.
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The Washington family's subsequent federal civil-rights lawsuit names Gigante along with Officers Felix DeJesus, Andrew Alas, Jasmere Epps, Auronny De La Cruz and Christian Ortiz, Sgt. Ryan Friend, Capt. Jason Field and Deputy Chief Joseph Santiago, as well as Jersey City and medical defendants.

SOURCE LINKS :

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://www.njoag.gov/update-ags-office-releases-phone-call-radio-transmissions-and-video-footage-related-to-fatal-police-involved-shooting-in-jersey-city/
https://www.njoag.gov/state-grand-jury-declines-to-criminally-charge-officer-in-connection-with-august-27-2023-fatal-police-shooting-in-jersey-city/
https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/new-jersey/njdce/2%3A2024cv08597/553447/64