Videos Show Fatal Police Shooting In Newark: ‘Gut-Wrenching Tragedy,’ Official Says

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Authorities have released bodycam video footage of a police shooting in Newark that killed a man and wounded another person on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

On Thursday, state prosecutors released an update about the Jan. 19 shooting, which ended with the death of Wali Bey, 42, of Newark – and has since sparked multiple rallies and vigils in his name.

According to the New Jersey attorney general’s office, the incident began when an officer with the Newark Police Department’s quality-of life unit was conducting surveillance near Ross and Thorne streets around 1 p.m.

The officer radioed headquarters after allegedly seeing “suspected narcotics activity” take place involving several people and two vehicles, including a white Chrysler. A mix of plainclothes and uniformed police arrived at the intersection at 1:11 p.m., with the undercover officers arriving in unmarked cars

One of the officers who responded was Nashid Reynolds – the officer who allegedly fired the fatal shots.

Here’s what happened next, prosecutors said:

“Upon arriving at the intersection, responding officers detained two civilians against the Chrysler and gave verbal commands for the vehicle’s driver, subsequently identified as Mr. Bey, to put his ‘hands on the dash.’ Officer Reynolds assisted an officer detain a separate civilian against his unmarked police vehicle, which was positioned in front of the Chrysler. The Chrysler then began to reverse. In response, Officer Reynolds ran to the Chrysler, put his hand on the hood of the Chrysler, and yelled at the driver not to move. The Chrysler turned its wheels and moved forward. Officer Reynolds then fired his service weapon multiple times, striking Mr. Bey and another civilian in the Chrysler. The Chrysler continued down Ross Street and crashed into a parked vehicle.”

Bey and the other wounded civilian were taken to University Hospital. Bey was pronounced deceased at 1:51 p.m. The other wounded civilian was treated and later released.

The state’s investigation into the shooting continues. No additional details were released.

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office is handling any criminal charges related to the civilian suspects, state authorities noted.

VIDEOS RELEASED

The New Jersey attorney general’s office has released video and audio recordings of the shooting, which can be viewed here. WARNING: Footage contains violent material that may be disturbing for some viewers.

The footage begins with officers arresting and handcuffing several suspects.

Another bodycam video shows the shooting from Reynolds’ perspective. “Don’t move!” he yells at the minivan, placing his hand on the vehicle’s hood – and firing when the driver ignores his command.

Reynolds can be seen repeatedly firing his service weapon at the minivan as it drives away, with at least one other officer also drawing their gun.

“Whoa, whoa!” says another officer who had just arrived on the scene, putting his hand on Reynolds’ shoulder.

The minivan then continues down the street – driving through a stop sign without slowing – until it veers off to the side of the road and crashes.

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CONTROVERSY

Conflicting accounts of the shooting have emerged.

A lawyer for the Newark Fraternal Order of Police – which represents the officer – previously alleged that the action taken by his client was “wholly warranted and necessary.”

“Our client, along with other officers, was working an undercover assignment, witnessing several obvious and illegal drug transactions, and was easily identifiable as a law enforcement officer by virtue of his bullet proof vest that has Newark Police boldly printed on it, front and back,” he told NJ Advance Media.

“Moreover, the driver of the vehicle floored his vehicle and drove directly at our client after being told to exit the vehicle, hitting him,” he added.

Grieving family members and local anti-violence activists have argued otherwise.

Bey’s sister and witnesses told Fox 5 New York that masked officers arrived at the scene in plainclothes and unmarked vehicles. Family members alleged that the occupants of the minivan didn’t realize they were police officers and tried to pull away from the scene before shots were fired.

In the week after the shooting, three vigils and an Islamic funeral were held for Bey, a lifelong Newark resident and father of two children.

Many community members have been demanding more answers from authorities. Groups that have spoken out in the wake of the shooting or lent support to the family include the Newark Anti-Violence Coalition, the People’s Organization for Progress, the Newark Study Group Chapter of the Association for study of Classical African Civilizations, the New Black Panther Party, and the Black Panther Party for Self Defense from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The New Jersey Communities for Accountable Policing claimed that Bey was shot “on the pretext that he was involved in a drug and weapons exchange.”

When the smoke cleared after the incident, however, there was no weapon and no drugs to be found, the group claimed.

Activists pointed to Reynolds’ track record as a cop, which reportedly includes 25 use-of-force incidents since he joined the force in June 2022.

“What do these matters of monitoring police behaviors mean if, when the red flags emerge, the brakes are not applied?” questioned Zayid Muhammad, a spokesperson for the coalition.

“Had that happened, Wali Bey would still be here,” Muhammad said.

MAYOR: ‘A GUT-WRENCHING TRAGEDY’

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda Sr. each released a statement a day after the shooting.

Baraka gave an update on the situation after Thursday’s release of the bodycam videos, saying that the city will be launching its own independent investigation when the state probe has finished.

“We continue to extend our deepest condolences to his family during this incredibly difficult time,” he said. “The loss of life is a gut-wrenching tragedy for all involved, and it has shaken our city. Every life matters, and any loss of life is taken seriously, regardless of who the person is or where they come from.”

“After watching the videos, it is clear that the case should be presented to a grand jury so they can review the evidence and determine if criminal charges should move forward,” the mayor continued.

“Once the criminal process concludes, the City of Newark will conduct its own independent investigation of the incident,” Baraka said. “The review will determine whether the Newark Police Division’s use-of-force policies or departmental procedures were violated.”

Baraka also commented on the recordings, noting that Bey’s family was given the opportunity to view the footage privately before it was released publicly.

“We understand that these recordings may be difficult for many to see and that people want answers right away, but it is crucial that we allow the legal process to take its course so that all the facts and evidence can be fully examined and there can be confidence in the outcome,” the mayor said.

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