Camden County Police Cleared in 2014 Officer Involved Shooting

The Division of Criminal Justice agrees with the Camden County Prosecutor’s conclusion that the use of deadly force was legally justified in a 2014 non-fatal police-involved shooting in Camden, the prosecutor’s office said on Thursday.

Furthermore, the Division of Criminal Justice agreed with the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office’s determination that the case doesn’t need to be presented to a grand jury.

The decision concerns the April 25, 2014 shooting of then 28-year-old James Dickerson, of Camden.

At about 9:35 p.m. on that date, Camden County Police received a 911 call from a woman who lived in the area of the Harmony House Apartments (previously known as the Sycamore Court Apartments) in Camden regarding a man with a gun standing in front of the nearby Chestnut Court Apartments.

Several Camden County Police officers heard the call and responded to the scene.

The first officer on the scene encountered Dickerson, who was 28 at the time. Dickerson allegedly shoved the officer out of the way before reaching for his waistband, removing a handgun and firing two shots in his direction.

The officer took cover behind a car and returned fire. He then began to pursue Dickerson on foot.

As Dickerson ran through the courtyard, he allegedly fired several more shots at the officer, who took cover behind the wall of the “D” building and once again returned fire.

Three more officers arrived on the scene and heard the exchange of gunfire. One of the officers allegedly saw Dickerson running with a gun in his right hand and pointing a gun back in his direction. That officer fired a total of 16 rounds at Dickerson while ordering him to stop and drop the gun. Dickerson allegedly ignored the commands.

A third officer fired one shot at Dickerson while taking cover near the building.

A fourth officer fired two shots at Dickerson.

Dickerson was struck by a bullet in the leg and fell to the ground with the gun still in his hand. Officers ordered Dickerson to release the weapon and he did, putting his hands on his head. Officers handcuffed Dickerson and secured his gun.

Dickerson was transported to Cooper Hospital University Medical Center for treatment of a single gunshot wound to his left femur.

A sergeant with the department responded to the scene and said he saw Dickerson and the first officer exchanging fire from the area of 7th and Sycamore streets. He also saw the second officer order Dickerson to drop his weapon.

A witness to the shooting later told detectives that he was walking towards his apartment in the “D” building when he saw a man and police exchanging gunfire. That witness specified Dickerson had fired the first shots.

Several other residents indicated they heard numerous shots fired, but did not witness the shooting.

Video surveillance footage obtained from the scene allegedly showed the initial confrontation between Dickerson and the first officer, as well as Dickerson running into the courtyard from the Sycamore Street side between buildings “A”and “D.”

The video allegedly shows Dickerson firing a gun behind his back while running. The video also shows the officers returning fire.

Dickerson’s weapon, identified as a Beretta Model 96G 40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, was sent to the New Jersey State Police Ballistics Lab, which reported he had fired six shots during the incident.

Further investigation revealed the weapon was allegedly stolen out of Deptford Township.

“Based on the officers’ accounts, which are corroborated by an independent witness, video surveillance footage and physical evidence, Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo determined the use of deadly force was legally justified,” the prosecutor’s office said in the statement. “All evidence indicates that the use of deadly force by all four officers was clearly necessary and reasonable for the officers to protect themselves, each other, and all the civilians in the apartment complex from imminent death or serious bodily injury. These officers were confronted by an armed male who fired his weapon multiple times at police officers in a residential area. Mr. Dickerson ignored repeated commands to drop his weapon and continued to wield the gun even after collapsing with a gunshot wound to his leg.”

Dickerson was charged with four counts of attempted murder, 12 counts of aggravated assault and one count each of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and certain persons not to have weapons, receiving stolen property and obstructing administration of law of other government function.

The case against him is pending trial.