Police Reform Demanded After NJ Violence Intervention Activist Killed

PATERSON, NJ — After a violence intervention activist was killed by police officers in Paterson on Friday, local activists are demanding reform at the police department.

The Attorney General's office is investigating the shooting death of Najee Seabrooks, who was identified by the Paterson Healing Collective as the victim in Friday's shooting. Seabrooks was a member of the group, which is "dedicated to resolving conflict and following up with shooting victims in the city of Paterson."

A rally and prayer vigil are planned for Tuesday.

Officials did not identify Seabrooks by name in their initial report, in which they said an "adult male civilian" was fatally shot during an encounter with police, at approximately 12:30 p.m. in the area of Mill and Ellison Streets. Mayor Andre Sayegh said officers were on the scene for four hours " trying to de-escalate the situation."

Black Lives Matter - Paterson said Seabrooks "was experiencing a mental health crisis" when police shot and killed him Friday.

The AG's office has not released the name of any officers involved, nor the number of times Seabrooks was shot.

Several organizations are holding a rally at Paterson City Hall to demand the officers' names be released and for the personnel involved to be fired on Tuesday, March 7 at 6 p.m., among other considerations.

A petition will be presented to city leaders and people may sign it online (the site was down as of 5 p.m. Monday; TAPinto reported it had 4,300 signatures earlier Monday afternoon.

There is also a prayer vigil on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the Paterson Healing Collective, through which Seabrooks worked as a violence intervention activist.

The PHC remembered Najee Seabrooks as "our brother and our heartbeat" in a post on Friday.

Mental health services are available at the Paterson Healing Collective (100 Hamilton Plaza, Suite 415) on Tuesday from 2-5 p.m. and Wednesday from 2-6 p.m., according to a flier posted by PHC.

Gov. Phil Murphy shared a message of condolence to the PHC but did not mention Seabrooks by name.

"Our thoughts are with the Paterson Healing Collective as they mourn the loss of a team member," he said Saturday. "Paterson Healing Collective, based at St. Joseph's, is one of NJ's leading hospital-based violence intervention programs. We must remain committed to making our state safer for all."