‘This is not justice.’ Family of Jersey City man fatally shot by police reacts to decision not to charge officer
A grand jury voted earlier this week not to criminally charge a Jersey City police officer in the 2023 death of Andrew Washington.
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The family of a man fatally shot during an encounter with Jersey City police has released a statement following a grand jury’s decision not to file criminal charges against the officer who shot him.
Andrew Washington was killed on Aug. 27, 2023. His family says he was suffering from a mental health crisis. Investigators say he was armed with a knife at the time he was shot.
News 12 spoke with Washington’s aunt, who provided the following statement:
“Drew’s mother is heartbroken that officers who took her child’s life will not be held criminally responsible for his death. We were never questioned as eyewitnesses. This is not justice.”
RELATED: Grand jury declines to file charges against Jersey City officer involved in fatal 2023 shooting
According to reports, Emergency Services Unit officers went to Washington's unit on the second floor of the building, attempting to speak with him through a locked door. They say Washington refused to come out and yelled, referring to seeing ghosts and a "suicide mission.” They say Washington then began striking the door repeatedly with an unknown object.
Police say for about half an hour, a trained negotiator tried persuading Washington to come out and get help before officers forcibly entered. They say Washington, who was standing a few feet from the doorway, was armed with a 13-inch knife and advanced toward officers. One officer deployed a Taser and another fired his service weapon at Washington twice.
