Man Killed By Police IDed After Detective Shot Him In Camden Co.: AG

BERLIN TOWNSHIP, NJ — The Attorney General's Office released the identity Thursday of a man who a State Police detective fatally shot last week in Camden County.

Shawn Phillips, 37, of West Berlin, was shot and killed July 29 in the West Berlin section of Berlin Township, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (OAG) said in a statement.

• Related: State Police Detective Fatally Shoots Man During Investigation In Camden Co.: AG

The incident involved two State Police detectives who were conducting an investigation that involved Phillips, the OAG said. The detectives were assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force, which combines law enforcement from the local to federal levels to arrest fugitives.

The OAG, which is investigating the shooting, has not released the names of any officers involved.

With fatal incidents involving police, the agency typically releases the identities of the person killed and the officer(s) under investigation at the same time. However, the OAG doesn't release identities of anyone on the Regional Fugitive Task Force because of officer safety concerns.

At the scene, the detectives saw Phillips leaving a house on Haddon Avenue near Bate Avenue, the OAG said.

During the ensuing encounter, one of the detectives shot Phillips with his service weapon, authorities said. It's unclear why the officer opened fire.

First aid was administered at the scene before Phillips was brought to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, where he was pronounced dead at 2:13 p.m. that day.

A revolver was recovered at the scene after the shooting, the OAG said. But the agency did not say who it belonged to or how it was used during the incident.

Berlin Township police were called to secure the scene of the shooting just before 1:15 p.m., but the department's officers were not involved in the deadly incident.

The investigation remains ongoing, and no further information is currently available, the OAG said.

State law requires the OAG to open an investigation when a person dies during an encounter with law enforcement or in custody. The findings are then presented to a grand jury that determines whether to indict any officers involved.