Jury Reaches Verdict About Police Shooting Of Jersey City Man In Crisis: AG

JERSEY CITY, NJ — A state grand jury voted Monday not to file any criminal charges against Jersey City police who fatally shot a man having a mental health crisis in 2023.

Andrew Washington, 52, had been out of the hospital for about a week when his family called police for help on Aug. 27, 2023, according to reports at the time. Officials went to the family's home because Washington was acting erratic.

Police said Washington charged at officers with a knife. Bodycam video was released later.

Washington's death set off several protests, with residents demanding that the police be accountable and take part in programs for how to respond to people with mental health issues.

Approximately a year later, a woman was shot to death in Fort Lee when her family called the police for help while she was in crisis.

Washington’s death was investigated by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) and presented to New Jersey residents serving
on the grand jury in accordance with the Independent Prosecutor Directive of 2019, said a release from the U.S. Attorney General's Office on Tuesday.

The investigation included a 911 call, body-worn camera footage, witness interviews, photographs, ballistics reports, and autopsy results from the medical examiner.

The jury voted “no bill" on Monday, concluding no criminal charges should be filed against Officer Stephen Gigante.

According to the investigation, family members told police that "they believed he was off of his medications, and that he needed to go to the hospital. Family members conveyed that they had contacted a mental-health crisis hotline earlier to request emergency medical services (EMS) for Mr. Washington."

At approximately 2:42 p.m., uniformed officers and EMTs entered the apartment building and attempted to speak to Washington through the locked door of his second-floor apartment, said officials. Washington said he didn't to speak to EMTs, yelled, and alluded to seeing ghosts. At approximately 2:50 p.m., Washington began to strike his apartment door repeatedly with an unknown object, officials testified.

The Jersey City Police Emergency Services Unit arrived. ESU Officer Felix DeJesus, who had helped get Washington to the hospital after a mental health incident two weeks earlier, spoke to family members. Then ESU entered the apartment.

ESU Officer Steven Gigante spoke to Washington and told him he wasn't in trouble, and should go to the hospital, officials said. Officials said Washington referred to a “suicide mission.”

When ESU officers entered his room, according to their testimony, "Washington advanced toward the officers with a large knife in his right hand as the door was closing. Mr. Washington opened the door, holding the knife, and continued to advance towards the officers. At that time, Officer DeJesus deployed his Taser, striking Mr. Washington. Officer Gigante simultaneously fired his service weapon twice, striking Mr. Washington, who fell onto the landing at the top of the stairwell."

Officers recovered the 13-inch knife, they said.

EMTs gave Washington first aid and took him to Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 4:47 p.m.

The Seabrooks-Washington Community-Led Crisis Response Act

In January 2024, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill into law named for Washington and for Najee Seabrooks, 31, of Paterson, who was also killed during an encounter with law enforcement.

The law established the Community Crisis Response Pilot Program and appropriated $12 million to support eligible grant recipients in six counties.

Organizations in the cities of Camden, Newark, Paterson, Trenton, and Jersey City were selected to receive grant funds of approximately $2 million each to support the creation of local Community Crisis Response Team (CCRT) Pilot Program, said the Attorney General's Office.

Currently, in Jersey City, plainclothes police officers and mental health professionals from Jersey City Medical Center respond jointly when they receive a call that requires mental health followup.

READ MORE: Footage Released In Controversial Jersey City Police Shooting Of Andrew Washington