Deloatch Shooting Justified, Officer Involved Says

One of the officers involved in a scuffle that led to the Sept. 22 shooting death of city resident Barry Deloatch says the now-deceased man was attacking him with a stick.

Lawrence Bitterman, attorney for Officer Daniel Mazan, told NJ.com that Deloatch was on the ground with the officer and hitting him. Bitterman says that Mazan heard Officer Brad Berdel tell Deloatch several times to drop the stick before he fired and killed Deloatch.

Both officers and the shooting, which has sparked two months of protests, is being investigated by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and have been scrutinized.

The Deloatch family has and protesters have called for a federal investigation and have .

Deloatch, 47, was shot and killed in an alley off Throop Avenue following a foot pursuit by the two New Brunswick Police officers during the early morning hours.