The Attorney General’s Office today released video footage from civilian and storefront cameras, a city closed-circuit TV camera, and a police body-worn camera, as well as radio transmissions and 911 calls related to a fatal police-involved shooting that occurred on December 29, 2021, in Paterson.
The decedent has been identified as Thelonious McKnight, 25, of Paterson.
The fatal shooting remains under investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA).
The recordings are being released in response to an OPRA request and pursuant to policies established by the Attorney General’s Office in 2019 that are designed to promote the fair, impartial, and transparent investigation of fatal police encounters.
According to the preliminary investigation, officers of the Paterson Police Department were investigating an earlier incident when they encountered Mr. McKnight near East Main Street and Hillman Street shortly before 9 p.m. on December 29, 2021.
The investigation found that Paterson Police Detective Mohammed Bashir fired his 40-caliber service weapon during the encounter, fatally wounding Mr. McKnight.
According to the investigation, fourteen 40-caliber shell casings were recovered from the scene. A 9mm handgun was recovered near Mr. McKnight along with nine 9mm shell casings.
Police and emergency medical personnel rendered first aid to Mr. McKnight, and he was pronounced deceased at the scene by a physician from St. Joseph’s University Medical Center at 9:11 p.m.
The recordings are posted online: Click here for recordings.
The investigation is ongoing, and no further information is being released at this time.