Note: Members of the press can email the Communications Office to obtain a link to download the recordings.

Keansburg, N.J. – The Attorney General’s Office today released five 911 calls, four surveillance camera videos, and video footage from the cameras on two Tasers related to a fatal police-involved shooting that occurred on Jan. 6, 2022 in Keansburg, N.J. The decedent has been identified as James Sutton, 55, of Keansburg.

The fatal shooting remains under investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA). The recordings are being released in response to an OPRA request and pursuant to policies established by the Attorney General’s Office in 2019 that are designed to promote the fair, impartial, and transparent investigation of fatal police encounters. Investigators met previously with Mr. Sutton’s family to review the recordings.

According to the preliminary investigation, at approximately 3:21 p.m. on Jan. 6, multiple 911 calls were received by the Keansburg Police Department reporting a robbery in progress at a pharmacy at 199 Main Street. Officers of the Keansburg Police Department responded. When officers arrived, Mr. Sutton was holding a large knife and threatening to harm an employee of the pharmacy. One officer was stabbed by Mr. Sutton. Multiple officers fired their service weapons striking Mr. Sutton, who was pronounced deceased at the scene. The officers who discharged their service weapons have been identified as Officer Jillian Putkowski, Detective Christopher Rogan, and Detective Richard Johnson.

Prior to the officers discharging their service weapons, the male officer who was stabbed and Officer Putkowski fired Tasers at Mr. Sutton. The officer who was stabbed is recovering.

The recordings are posted online: Click here for recordings

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

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