Authorities ID Man Killed In Plainsboro Police-Involved Shooting

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — Authorities have identified the man fatally shot by police outside a residence in Plainsboro earlier this month as Atiba Lewis, 45.

The officer who fired at Lewis has been identified as Det. Phillip Nguyen of the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said.

According to the preliminary investigation, the shooting occurred shortly after 11:30 a.m. on Ravens Crest Drive in Plainsboro, on Feb. 16. Law enforcement officers, including members of the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, were outside a residence when they encountered Lewis, Platkin said.

During the encounter, Nguyen discharged his service weapon, fatally wounding Lewis and a knife was recovered near him, Platkin said.

Officers and emergency medical personnel rendered first aid to Lewis, who was taken to Princeton Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:10 p.m., Platkin said.

An investigation is being conducted pursuant to Attorney General Directive 2019-4, which implements the statutory requirement that the Attorney General’s Office conduct the investigation of any death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody, and which establishes clear standards and procedures for conducting such investigations.

The investigation is ongoing and no further information was released.