Decorated N.J. Cop Who Shot Essex County Man Also Killed 2 Others: Report

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A decorated, off-duty Jersey City police officer shot and killed a man in East Orange last weekend, and may have been involved in two other fatal shootings over the course of his 24-year career, reports say.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, an off-duty Jersey City police officer fatally shot Samir Nicholson, 24, of East Orange, around 1 p.m. on April 29 on the 200 block of South Clinton Street in East Orange.

Emergency responders pronounced Nicholson dead at 1:35 p.m., prosecutors said.

Unnamed law-enforcement sources identified Titus Johnson, a Jersey City police sergeant with 13 awards and commendations, as the officer involved in the shooting, NJ.com reported.

The report stated that Johnson allegedly shot and killed a stabbing suspect in December 1999 while off-duty but in uniform, and in 2004, shot and killed a man during a traffic stop.

Johnson also allegedly shot and wounded a man during a foot pursuit in 2004, NJ.com reported.

A police union representative defended Johnson’s actions on Saturday, saying that “he was forced to make a decision no one in law enforcement ever wants to, but is well-trained to.”

Read the full report here.

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office released a statement about the April 29 shooting on Tuesday:

“The preliminary investigation indicates that the off-duty Jersey City police officer witnessed a shooting in progress. That officer shot Nicholson after he shot an unidentified male. The other male was treated and released from University Hospital. A gun was recovered in Nicholson’s possession. Consistent with Attorney General guidelines, the incident remains under review by the Professional Standards Bureau of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.”

An investigation is active and ongoing, authorities said. Anyone with information can contact the Essex County Professional Standards Bureau at 862-520-3700.