Paterson officers won't face charges in fatal shooting

Two police officers from Paterson, New Jersey, will not face charges for the killing of Najee Seabrooks, who died in 2023. This decision comes after a grand jury reviewed the case and decided against filing any criminal charges. Seabrooks, 31, was experiencing a mental health crisis when he called 911 on himself. His family reported that he was acting unusually. He was in his brother's apartment and expressed fears that someone was trying to harm him. On March 3, 2023, officers Anzore Tsay and Jose Hernandez responded to the call. Seabrooks had barricaded himself in a bathroom and had contact with officers for about five hours. Family members from a nonviolent intervention group tried to intervene but were not allowed to take control of the situation. During the standoff, Seabrooks was armed with a knife. When he finally left the bathroom and approached the officers, they shot him. According to body camera footage, the grand jury concluded there was insufficient evidence to hold the officers accountable for his death. The outcome of the shooting led to protests in Paterson and increased oversight of the local police by the attorney general’s office, which continues to this day.