Man Who Died In Officer-Involved Standoff In Asbury Park Is ID'd

ASBURY PARK – A 39-year-old man who died in a police-involved shooting was identified on Monday.

The person who died was identified as Hasani Best, 39, of Asbury Park., according to the Office of Attorney General.

Asbury Park officials said they were "saddened" when they learned that the 39-year-old man died this weekend in the officer-involved shooting and standoff in Asbury Park.

"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.

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, Best, and woman were involved in the dispute were at the residence. The woman was outside, and Best 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 Best through the door of the apartment in an effort to end the standoff, the OAG said.

During the incident, Best opened the door at various times, revealing that he was armed with a knife, the release said. Best 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. Best 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 Best 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.