By: Richard L. Smith
A state grand jury has decided not to file any criminal charges in the case of Everett Rand, 29, of Newark, who was fatally shot by Newark Police Department officers on May 3, 2023.
The Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) investigated Mr. Rand's death and presented findings to the grand jury in line with the 2019 Independent Prosecutor Directive.
The investigation included witness interviews, video footage, ballistics, and autopsy results. On July 8, 2024, the grand jury voted "no bill," concluding that no criminal charges should be filed against Officers Steven Ferreira and Ryan Castro.
The incident began when Newark officers responded to a 911 call about individuals shot inside a residence on Johnson Avenue. Officers saw Mr. Rand leaving the residence and discarding an item in a nearby dumpster.
During a subsequent foot chase, Officer Ferreira reported seeing Mr. Rand reach for what appeared to be a handgun, prompting both Ferreira and Castro to discharge their weapons.
Mr. Rand was hit and later pronounced deceased at University Hospital in Newark.
Further investigation revealed Mr. Rand had discarded a semi-automatic handgun with a large capacity magazine in the dumpster.
Inside the residence, police found a 27-year- old man and an 8-year-old boy, both fatally shot, with another individual sustaining non-life-threatening injuries.
The Essex County Prosecutor's Office handled the investigation of the shootings inside the home.
Footage from the body-worn cameras of four officers involved in the shooting has been made publicly available.