Asbury Park Officials: 'Saddened' After Deadly Standoff

ASBURY PARK – Asbury Park officials said they were "saddened" when they learned that a 39-year-old man died this weekend in an officer-involved shooting and standoff in Asbury Park, according to the Office of the Attorney General.

"We are saddened to hear of any loss of life in our community and await more details from the investigation," the mayor and council said.

The fatal shooting occurred around 10 p.m. on Friday after multiple officers of the Asbury Park Police Department responded to the scene of a domestic dispute, according to the Office of the Attorney General.

"While we currently do not have any other details, we do know several Asbury Park Police Officers responded to a situation that ultimately resulted in the use of lethal force," the statement read.

"The Office of the Attorney General of New Jersey has taken the lead on an independent and objective investigation, with the assistance of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. As the investigation proceeds, more information will be provided to the public by their offices."

At 9 p.m., police officers first responded to the dispute inside a two-family residence in the 900 block of 4th Ave. in Asbury Park, according to an OAG release.

When police arrived, the man and woman involved in the dispute were at the residence. The woman was outside, and the man had barricaded himself inside the upstairs apartment, the release said.

Monmouth County sheriff's officers soon arrived to assist the Asbury Park police officers, the release said. Officers tried to negotiate with the man through the door of the apartment in an effort to end the standoff, the OAG said.

During the incident, the man opened the door at various times, revealing that he was armed with a knife, the release said. The man continued to hold the knife, despite repeated requests from the police to drop the weapon, the release said.

Officers attempted to use a Taser, but it wasn't effective, the OAG said. The man remained armed with the knife, and at approximately 10:10 p.m., an Asbury Park officer shot and fatally wounded him, the release said.

Officers and EMS rendered medical aid, and EMS transported the man to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where he was pronounced dead at 10:31 p.m., the release said

The investigation is being conducted by the Attorney General's Office, pursuant to a law enacted in January 2019, which requires that the OAG conduct investigations of a person's death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer.

Law enforcement must be acting in the officer's official capacity or while the decedent is in custody.