Jury Decides Fate Of Cop Who Fatally Shot Man With Airgun In Jersey City

JERSEY CITY, NJ — A police officer who fatally shot an armed man will not be charged with a crime, a state grand jury decided on Monday.

The jury voted not to file criminal charges against Jersey City Police Sgt. Ricardo Reyes, who fatally shot Steven Sanchez, 26, in August 2024, the state Attorney General's Office announced Tuesday.

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Investigators say that on Aug. 12, Sanchez shot an airgun toward police cars traveling on Kennedy Boulevard. When three officers got out, according to investigators, Sanchez pointed the firearm at them. Reyes exchanged gunfire with Sanchez, officials said.

'Hey Listen, Put It Down!'

According to the investigation, at approximately 1:22 p.m. on Aug. 12, two Jersey City officers were driving south in a police car down Kennedy Blvd. when they heard something strike the car.

At the same time, Sgt. Reyes was heading north in a different police car and heard "multiple loud bangs outside of his police vehicle," according to the Attorney General's office.

Both cars made U-turns.

The two officers in the first car got out and saw Sanchez pointing what appeared to be a gun toward them, investigators said. When they asked him to drop it, he did not, officials said.

Reyes got out and saw the same man, officials said. According to investigators, Sanchez fired the gun at Reyes, who returned gunfire. Then, despite being shot, Sanchez ran toward Reyes, investigators say.

"A physical struggle ensued, and Mr. Sanchez was ultimately disarmed and subdued," the Attorney General's Office said. "Officers immediately began rendering medical aid until EMS arrived."

Sanchez was taken to Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 8:45 p.m.

Reyes sustained a non-life-threatening injury.

Police found a compressed air pistol and projectiles at the scene, investigators said.

In footage of the incident, police can be seen yelling, "Put it down! Put it down! Don't do it! Hey listen, put it down!" The footage can be seen here (warning: sensitive content).

A 2019 law requires the state to investigate all fatal police encounters.

See prior reporting: Man Shot To Death By Jersey City Police Identified