Use Of Force Justified In Mercer Police Shooting: Union Prosecutor

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A Mercer County Grand Jury concluded that the Feb. 12, 2022 shooting of Jajuan Henderson by a Trenton Police officer was legally justified, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office said Monday.

Due to a conflict between the Trenton Police Department and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, the incident was investigated by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.

Jajuan Henderson, 29, of Burlington was shot by Trenton Police on Feb. 12 last year.

Henderson’s mother Gia Henderson, NJ NAACP president Richard Smith and lawyers announced they were suing the city of Trenton, and Trenton police. More: NAACP Accuses Trenton Police Of Shooting, Paralyzing Black Man

On Saturday, February 12, 2022, around 12:10 a.m., Henderson was sitting in the driver’s seat of a parked vehicle, with the engine running, when four uniformed detectives from the Trenton Police Street Crimes Unit stopped to investigate.

Henderson’s vehicle was parked in a high crime area near a house suspected of complaints of prostitution, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel said.

After seeing Henderson’s response to police presence, the detectives approached to make inquiry and get Henderson’s credentials. According to the report from the prosecutor’s office, Henderson repeatedly refused to comply with the detectives’ requests; refused to put down his car window; refused to produce credentials; and was ultimately advised that he was under arrest for Obstruction.

After providing multiple warnings to Henderson, Det. Michael Gettler broke the driver’s window in an attempt to arrest him, officials said. Henderson attempted to flee and accelerated forward at a high rate of speed, striking a parked car in front of him, as well as a police car parked on his front driver’s side, Daniel said.

He then reversed at a high rate of speed, toward where Det. John Carrigg was positioned and struck a car parked behind him. Det. Gettler discharged four shots toward Henderson, stopping the threat and leaving Henderson seriously injured, officials said.

The matter was presented to the Mercer County Grand Jury for review on March 17 and March 24. The Officer stated that he was in fear for his life and the lives of his colleagues when he decided to shoot. The Officer also believed that shooting was necessary for the protection of his life and the lives of his colleagues, Union Prosecutor’s Office said.

The evidence collected included body worn camera recordings, photographs of the scene, ballistics, and statements from the Officers. The statements were consistent with each other and with the physical evidence, Union Prosecutor’s Office said.

The grand jurors found that Det. Gettler’s actions were legally justified in accordance with N.J.S.A. Use of Force in Self-Protection and/or N.J.S.A. Use of Force for the Protection of Other Persons.

The 29-year-old was visiting the mother of his child in Trenton and walked outside to his parked car around midnight to get iced tea when the incident occurred, according to his lawyers.

The NAACP said officers began yelling at Henderson, broke his car window and shot him in the neck, paralyzing him chest down.

The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office is still prosecuting Henderson on third- and fourth-degree charges, a spokesperson confirmed.

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