2 Officers Who Shot, Killed NJ Man In Distress Identified: AG

PATERSON, NJ — Paterson Police refused to allow crisis negotiators to speak with a man in a mental health crisis before two officers shot him Friday, said local activists working to end violence in the city.

Two Paterson police officers fired their weapons and hit Najee Seabrooks after an almost five-hour interaction after he had called them for help, according to officials and Seabrooks’ friends and coworkers.

The 31-year-old had barricaded himself in a bathroom, said Attorney General Matthew Platkin’s office. Officials identified Seabrooks by name for the first time Wednesday, and Platkin’s initial statement did not say Seabrooks threatened any of the Paterson officers or had any type of weapon.

The officers who fired their weapons were identified as Officer Anzore Tsay and Officer Jose Hernandez, members of Paterson’s Emergency Response Team, said Platkin.

Black Lives Matter - Paterson said Seabrooks "was experiencing a mental health crisis" when police shot and killed him. Friends, family, and coworkers had arrived to try and help and “begged police” to intervene and talk to Seabrooks, according to a GoFundMe set up in his memory to benefit his daughter Sophia.

The PHC, with whom he worked as a violence intervention activist, announced his death Friday.

Officers responded to a Mill Street residence at 7:43 a.m. Friday, March 3, for a call of an “individual in distress.” The Paterson Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) and the Emergency Response Team (ERT) responded and three officers used “less lethal force” before Tsay and Hernandez fired their weapons at approximately 12:35 p.m., said Platkin’s office. The AG's office did not specify what force the officers used.

As required by NJ law, the Attorney General’s office will investigate the shooting and determine if any officers involved may face charges in Seabrooks’ death.

Paterson Police just swore in a new police chief on March 3, Englebert Ribiero, whom Mayor Andre Sayegh picked to succeed fired chief Ibrahim “Mike” Baycora. The Attorney General's Office has investigated a number other of police-involved deaths in Paterson since 2019, including the death of 25-year-old Thelonious McKnight in December 2021.

A “Justice for Najee” petition has garnered more than 5,300 signatures as of Thursday morning, and calls for the restructuring of Paterson’s police department and the establishment of a community-controlled Civilian Complaint Review Board, ending qualified immunity, and an autonomous and fully-funded Crisis Assistance Team. The petition also calls for all officers and personnel involved in his shooting death to be charged, and the shooting officers to be charged with murder.

“No amount of diversity, de-escalation training, or increased use of surveillance technology will end the endemic problem of violence and corruption in the Paterson police department,” the petition states. “A complete restructuring of the Paterson Police Department along with fully funded community safety teams is long overdue in Paterson.”

Several hundred people rallied outside Paterson City Hall on Tuesday after a prayer vigil to demand change. Paterson was scheduled to have a special City Council meeting that night, which was canceled according to the city calendar. Related article — Police Reform Demanded After NJ Violence Intervention Activist Killed

A GoFundMe set up in Seabrooks’ memory for his daughter and for funeral expenses has raised close to $5,000 as of Thursday morning.

“Paterson Healing Collective, who specialize in crisis intervention begged police to intervene,” said the fundraiser’s author, Nicole Ricketts. “The police refused. As a result, Najee was not given the help he sought. This tragic event amplifies the need for an independent mental health crisis team as well as proficient training by law enforcement.”

Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh said "is clear more mental health/crisis intervention resources are needed throughout our city" in a statement March 6. On Wednesday he joined the call for body camera footage to be released.

This is the full statement from AG Platkin’s office on Seabrooks’ death, sent Wednesday:

The Attorney General’s Office today identified the decedent and officers involved in Friday’s fatal officer-involved shooting in Paterson. The civilian who died during the encounter has been identified as Najee Seabrooks, 31, of Paterson.

According to the preliminary investigation, on Friday, March 3, 2023, at approximately 7:43 a.m., the Paterson Police Department responded to Mill Street, City of Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey, in response to a 911 call of an individual in distress. The individual, later identified as Mr. Najee Seabrooks, the decedent, had barricaded himself within a bathroom. At approximately 8:42 a.m., additional resources from the Paterson Police Department responded to the scene including the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) and the Emergency Response Team (ERT). During the encounter, less lethal force was deployed by three (3) officers, identified as Hector Mendez, Qiad Lin, and Mario Vdovjak. At approximately 12:35 p.m. two (2) members of the ERT, Officer Anzore Tsay and Officer Jose Hernandez, discharged their weapons striking Mr. Seabrooks. Mr. Seabrooks was transported to Saint Joseph's Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased at 12:51 p.m.

A 2019 law, P.L. 2019, c. 1, requires the Attorney General’s Office to conduct investigations of a person’s 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. It requires that all such investigations be presented to a grand jury to determine if the evidence supports the return of an indictment against the officer or officers involved.

The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time.