PATERSON – The Attorney General’s Office is conducting an investigation of a fatal police-involved shooting that occurred last night in Paterson, N.J. One male civilian sustained fatal injuries. His identity is not being released at this time.

According to the preliminary investigation, officers of the Paterson Police Department were investigating an earlier incident when they encountered the decedent near East Main Street and Hillman Street shortly before 9 p.m. During the encounter, one police officer fired his service weapon, fatally wounding the man. A 9mm handgun was recovered near the decedent. Police and emergency medical personnel rendered first aid, and he was pronounced deceased at the scene by a physician from St. Joseph’s University Medical Center at 9:11 p.m.

This investigation is being conducted pursuant to Attorney General Directive 2019-4, which implements the statutory requirement that the Attorney General’s Office conduct the investigation of any death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody, and which establishes clear standards and procedures for conducting such investigations.

The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time.

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