By: Najla Alexander
NJ AG authorities announced that the Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability identified the decedent and the officer involved in a fatal shooting that occurred on November 3 in ,the Westmont section of Haddon Township, Camden County.
The civilian who died during the encounter has been identified as Keith Edelin, 46, of Pennsauken, Attorney General officials said.
According to the preliminary investigation, on November 3, at approximately 1:07 a.m., members of the Haddon Township Police Department responded to a 9-1-1 call regarding an attempted burglary in progress at an apartment complex on West Crystal Lake Avenue in Westmont.
Shortly after arrival, Haddon Township Police Officer Luke Falkenberg and his partner encountered a male, later identified as Mr. Edelin, in the stairwell armed with a knife, Haddon Townhip Police stated.
During an interaction in the stairwell, AG officials stated that Officer Falkenberg fired his service weapon, striking Mr. Edelin.
According to Haddon Town Police, officers rendered medical aid until emergency medical personnel arrived and transported Mr. Edelin to Cooper University Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased approximately one hour later.
A knife was recovered at the scene and the officers did not sustain any injuries during the encounter, AG authorities stated.
A 2019 law, N.J.S.A. 52:17B-107(a)(2), requires the Attorney General’s Office to conduct investigations of a person’s death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody, AG officials said. It requires that all such investigations be presented to a grand jury to determine if the evidence supports the return of an indictment against the officer or officers involved.
The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time.