The New Jersey Attorney General has confirmed that the United States Marshals Service was involved in the fatal shooting of a fugitive last night in the Heights.
According to the attorney general, members of the United States Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force were in Jersey City to execute an arrest warrant for a man wanted for murder and attempted murder. The charges stemmed from an incident that took place in Orlando, Florida on Friday.
At approximately 11:10 p.m., the Marshals encountered the man in the area of Jefferson and Central avenues. Residents reported hearing gunshots.
The suspect was wounded and taken to Jersey City Medical Center where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The attorney general is not releasing the man’s identity at this time and said that the investigation is ongoing.
New Jersey law requires that the Attorney General’s Office conduct investigations of deaths that occur during encounters with law enforcement officers acting in the officers’ official capacities or while the decedent is in custody. It requires that all such investigations be presented to a grand jury to determine if the evidence supports the return of an indictment against the officer or officers involved.