Grand Jury Reaches Decision In Fatal New Brunswick Police Shooting Of Woman

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — A state grand jury voted not to file any criminal charges against a New Brunswick police officer who shot and killed a woman in the doorway of her apartment on August 8, 2025.

The woman was Deborah Terrell, 68, a New Brunswick city resident who lived in the John P. Fricano Tower, a public senior housing building.

The New Brunswick Police officer who shot and killed her was Josue Plaza.

Terrell’s death was investigated by the office of New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, who presented evidence of what happened that day to New Jersey residents serving on a grand jury. The Attorney General must investigate anytime someone is killed in an encounter with law enforcement, and evidence must be presented to a grand jury to determine if the police officer committed any wrongdoing.

On Monday, the grand jury voted “no bill,” concluding no criminal charges should be filed against Officer Plaza.

This was after the grand jury heard 911 calls, police radio transmissions, body-worn camera videos, witness and law enforcement statements, a ballistics report, medical records, and autopsy results.

Protesters Shut Down Rt. 18 As They March For New Brunswick Woman Killed By Police (Sept. 2025)

Last September, an estimated 130 people marched on Rt. 18 in New Brunswick, closing the highway down, as they marched for criminal charges to be filed against the police officer for Terrell's death. Protesters also marched in front of New Brunswick Police headquarters and tried to enter New Brunswick city Council meetings; this video shows protesters being blocked by police in August.

The day of Terrell's death

At approximately 4 a.m. August 8, 2025, New Brunswick Police officers were dispatched to the John P. Fricano Tower at 90 Neilson Street, after receiving a 911 call reporting that a woman resident, later identified as Terrell, was disturbing other residents.

When they arrived, police officers unsuccessfully attempted to speak with Terrell, as she refused to speak with officers or open her apartment door.

The officers left.

Later, at 7:32 a.m., dispatch received another 911 call reporting that Terrell was repeatedly going in and out of her apartment and threatening other tenants with a knife. In response, officers again went to Terrell’s apartment and also asked that EMTs be positioned outside the apartment building for a potential mental evaluation of Terrell.

At approximately 7:38 a.m., officers arrived at the apartment building and spoke with other residents, who told police they saw Terrell walking the halls with a large knife. Officers again went to her apartment.

At approximately 7:41 a.m., officers approached Terrell’s apartment door and knocked. Terrell opened the door with a knife in her hand, said Davenport. After officers asked her to drop the knife, she shut the door, locked it from inside, and stuck the blade of the knife underneath the door, moving it back and forth. Officers asked her to open the door and talk to them. During a brief exchange through the door, Terrell mentioned that a man was inside the apartment with her, and officers asked if he could come to the door and speak with them.

Terrell refused and then stopped talking. Officers knocked on the door and made attempts to re-establish communication. Terrell could be heard shouting inside the apartment and again moved the blade of the knife back and forth underneath the door’s gap. Terrell then opened the door and pointed the knife at officers before shutting the door again and moving the blade of the knife back and forth underneath the door a third time.

Officers then assembled on one side of the apartment door and were assigned “lethal” and “less lethal” duties, said the Attorney General. A short time later, Terrell opened the door and stepped into the hallway saying, “C’mon” while holding the knife. At that moment, one officer deployed pepper spray and another officer deployed a taser. In response, Terrell momentarily turned around and backed into her apartment, but then turned back toward officers and advanced in their direction with the knife in her hand.

Plaza then fired his service weapon twice, striking Terrell. Officers provided medical aid. She was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where she was pronounced deceased. A 12-inch knife was recovered at the scene.

The 911 calls and footage related to this incident were previously released and are posted online: See The Body Camera Footage In New Brunswick Police Fatal Shooting (Sept. 4, 2025)

And here from the NJ Attorney General (Warning: Some the videos may be difficult to watch): https://njoag.box.com/s/6rwu40t0hjf61r8vzehficn6u4a6qo26

Members of Terrell’s family reviewed the recordings before the AG released them to the public.