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Thelonious McKnight

Age : 25

Gender : Male

Race : Black

Date : 12/29/2021

Location : 99 East Main Street

City : Paterson

County : Passaic

State : New Jersey

Agency : Paterson Police Department

Officer(s) :Detective Mohammed Bashir

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during encounter

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 12/29/2021, Paterson Police Department Detective Mohammed Bashir shot and killed Thelonious McKnight, 25, near East Main Street and Hillman Street in Paterson. The New Jersey Attorney General's Office investigated the killing through its Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. McKnight was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:11 p.m.
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The encounter began after a Paterson detective monitoring city surveillance cameras observed McKnight and another man and believed both appeared to be carrying handguns. Police subsequently detained the other man on Jefferson Street. Detectives then encountered McKnight near East Main and Hillman shortly before 9 p.m.
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According to the state's later investigation, detectives approached McKnight and ordered him to remove his hands from his pockets. Police alleged that McKnight did not comply and ran into an alley. Detectives pursued him on foot.
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Police alleged that McKnight pulled a 9mm handgun from his clothing and pointed it at a detective at close range. Investigators said McKnight initially pulled the trigger while the gun's safety was engaged, then disengaged the safety and exchanged gunfire with police. Detective Mohammed Bashir fired his .40-caliber service weapon, fatally striking McKnight.
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Investigators recovered fourteen .40-caliber cartridge casings attributed to Bashir's gunfire. A 9mm handgun was recovered near McKnight along with nine 9mm cartridge casings. Police and emergency medical personnel attempted first aid before a physician from St. Joseph's University Medical Center pronounced McKnight dead.
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The New Jersey Attorney General subsequently released extensive evidence from the encounter, including civilian and storefront surveillance video, city CCTV footage, police body-camera footage, radio transmissions and 911 recordings. McKnight's family was permitted to review recordings before their public release.
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McKnight's family disputed the official account of the shooting. His sister, Janet Rodriguez, later filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit against Bashir, the City of Paterson and the Paterson Police Department. The federal complaint was filed on 12/29/2023, exactly two years after McKnight's death.
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The Attorney General's Office presented the completed investigation to a state grand jury. Evidence presented included witness interviews, photographs, autopsy findings and video from multiple sources. On 12/11/2023, the grand jury voted not to file criminal charges against Bashir.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Detective Mohammed Bashir was publicly identified by the New Jersey Attorney General as the Paterson officer who fatally shot McKnight. A later federal civil-rights lawsuit filed by McKnight's sister named Bashir, the City of Paterson and the Paterson Police Department as defendants.
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The Paterson Police Department had substantial documented misconduct problems surrounding the period of McKnight's killing. A federal investigation resulted in convictions of multiple Paterson officers for a scheme involving illegal stops and searches, theft of money from residents, excessive force and falsified police reports. Paterson Sergeant Michael Cheff was convicted of conspiring to violate civil rights and falsifying a police report, while officers Jonathan Bustios, Eudy Ramos, Matthew Torres, Frank Toledo and Daniel Pent also pleaded guilty or were convicted and subsequently sentenced in the federal investigation.
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The department's broader problems ultimately prompted extraordinary state intervention. In 2023, following additional police killings and a continuing crisis of public confidence, the New Jersey Attorney General assumed control of Paterson Police Department operations. McKnight's killing was specifically among the fatal police encounters cited by civil-rights advocates seeking outside investigation of the department.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.rlsmedia.com/article/victim-identified-fatal-police-involved-shooting-paterson
https://www.rlsmedia.com/article/ags-office-releases-videos-related-fatal-police-involved-shooting-paterson
https://newjersey.news12.com/grand-jury-votes-not-to-indict-paterson-police-detective-for-2021-deadly-shooting
https://www.rlsmedia.com/article/nj-grand-jury-declines-charge-paterson-detective-fatal-shooting
https://dockets.justia.com/docket/new-jersey/njdce/2%3A2023cv23414/538529
https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/paterson-police-sergeant-convicted-conspiracy-violate-civil-rights-and-filing-false
https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/paterson-police-sergeant-sentenced-33-months-prison-conspiracy-violate-civil-rights-and
https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/two-paterson-police-officers-sentenced-prison-terms-roles-violating-individuals-civil
https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/three-paterson-police-officers-sentenced-roles-violating-individuals-civil-rights