Protesters Shut Down Rt. 18 As They March For New Brunswick Woman Killed By Police

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — More than 100 people took over Rt. 18 in New Brunswick Saturday, as they protested the death of Deborah Terrell.

Terrell is the woman who was shot and killed by New Brunswick Police on Aug. 8.

Protesters marched in the pouring rain that came down Saturday afternoon and took over Rt. 18 at Paulus Blvd., blocking traffic. They held signs that read "Justice for Deborah Terrell" and chanted her name, as well as "no justice, no peace."

Cars honked at the protesters and New Brunswick Police told protesters to leave, telling them they were blocking traffic. Protesters booed and shouted in response.

Attendees at the protest, one of whom was New Brunswick Today editor Charlie Kratovil, estimated there were more than 130 people marching. The protest started at the New Brunswick Police station and from there marched to Rt. 18, where marchers stood on the highway. Kratovil also has this video of the protest that began that day outside New Brunswick Police headquarters.

In the past month, protesters calling for justice for Terrell's death have also tried to enter New Brunswick city Council meetings; this video shows protesters being blocked by police in August.

Terrell, 68, who lived in a New Brunswick senior housing building, was fatally shot by a police officer as she came out of her apartment holding a knife. Police say they were called to the John P. Fricano Tower multiple times that day by other residents, who said Terrell was threatening residents with a knife in the building's hallways.

New Brunswick Police officers say she emerged from her apartment holding a knife and "advanced in their direction with the knife in her hand," New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin said last week.

Terrell was fatally shot twice by one New Brunswick Police officer, who discharged his service weapon twice. This was after officers first used pepper spray and a Taser on her.

Last week, Platkin released the 911 calls and body camera videos from Terrell's death. Warning: Some videos may be difficult to watch: https://njoag.box.com/s/6rwu40t0hjf61r8vzehficn6u4a6qo26

Also last week, Platkin released a summary of Terrell's death: At approximately 4 a.m. August 8, officers from the New Brunswick Police Department were dispatched to the Fricano Tower at 90 Neilson Street. This was in response to a 911 call reporting that a woman resident, later identified as Terrell, was disturbing other residents.

Officers responded and unsuccessfully attempted to speak with Terrell, as she refused to speak with officers or open her apartment door.

Police then left.

Later, at 7:32 a.m., officers were again called to the senior building, after receiving a 911 call that Terrell was repeatedly going in and out of her apartment and threatening other tenants with a knife.

Dispatch sent officers to Terrell’s apartment a second time, and contacted emergency medical services, requesting that EMTs be positioned outside the apartment building for a potential evaluation.

It remains unknown if mental health counselors were called that day; the Attorney General previously refused to answer when asked this question. In 2021, Platkin and Gov. Phil Murphy launched the Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation (ARRIVE) Together, where trained mental health counselors respond with police to certain 911 calls, particularly those where the subject may be having a mental health crisis. This was meant to reduce incidences of people being killed by police.

At approximately 7:38 a.m., officers arrived at the apartment building and made contact with residents, who said they saw Terrell holding a large knife. Officers proceeded up an elevator and went to Terrell’s apartment.

At approximately 7:41 a.m., officers approached Terrell’s apartment door and knocked. She opened the door with a knife in her hand, said the Attorney General. After officers asked her to drop the knife, she shut the door, locked it from inside, and moved the knife back and forth underneath the bottom of the door, said the AG.

Officers asked her to reopen the door and talk to them. During a brief exchange through the door, Terrell mentioned that a man was inside the apartment with her, and officers asked if he could come to the door and speak with them. Terrell refused and then stopped talking.

Officers knocked on the door and made attempts to re-establish communication. Terrell could be heard shouting inside the apartment and again moved the knife back and forth underneath the door’s gap.

Terrell then opened the door and pointed the knife at officers before shutting it again, and moving the knife back and forth underneath the door a third time.

Officers then assembled on one side of the apartment door and were assigned “lethal” and “less lethal” duties. A short time later, Terrell opened the door and stepped into the hallway saying, “C’mon” while holding the knife, said the Attorney General. At that moment, one officer deployed pepper spray and another officer deployed a taser.

In response, Terrell initially turned around and backed into her apartment, but then turned back toward officers and advanced in their direction with the knife in her hand, said the Attorney General. An officer then fired his service weapon twice, striking Terrell.

Officers provided medical aid and Terrell was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where she was pronounced deceased. A 12-inch knife was recovered at the scene.

The identities of the police officers are not being released at this time, due to threats being made against them, said the Attorney General.

The circumstances surrounding Terrell's death will be presented to a grand jury to determine if the evidence supports the return of an indictment against the officer or officers involved.

First report: Woman Shot And Killed By Police In New Brunswick (Aug. 8)

See The Body Camera Footage In New Brunswick Police Fatal Shooting (Sept. 4)