***UPDATED INFORMATION INCLUDING IDENTITIES OF DECEDENT AND OFFICER***
For Immediate Release: January 11, 2022
Office of The Attorney General
– Andrew J. Bruck, Acting Attorney General
Office of Public Integrity and Accountability
– Thomas J. Eicher, Executive Director
For Further Information:
Media Inquiries-
Peter Aseltine
OAGpress@njoag.gov
Keansburg, N.J. – The Attorney General’s Office is conducting an investigation of a fatal police-involved shooting that occurred on Jan. 6, 2022 in Keansburg, N.J. One male civilian sustained fatal injuries.
The decedent has been identified as James Sutton, 55, of Keansburg, N.J.
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 weapons have been identified as Officer Jillian Putkowski, Detective Christopher Rogan, and Detective Richard Johnson.
The male officer who was stabbed is recovering.
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.
###