NJ Man Killed In Police-Involved Shooting Had Reported Intruders

GLOUCESTER COUNTY — A Gloucester County man who was fatally shot during an encounter with a police officer at his home last month had called 911 to report three intruders in his backyard, according to a 911 recording released as part of the Attorney General’s Office’s investigation into the incident.

“One of them has a gun for sure,” 49-year-old Charles Sharp, of Mantua Township, told the dispatcher who answered his call at about 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 14. “I don’t know what type it is, but it’s definitely a handgun.”

He told police his grandfather had left him a .45 caliber handgun in his will, but he’s not sure what he’s “allowed to do with that.”

Arriving officers immediately encountered a man with a handgun and exchanged gunfire, according to bodycam footage that was also shared as part of the investigation.

The officer shot the man, who turned out to be Sharp. After reporting the shooting, three officers cautiously approached Sharp, and a .45 caliber handgun was found near his body, the footage shows.

“I don’t know he had a gun,” the officer said. “He pointed the gun. I thought he was going to [expletive]shoot me, dude.”

The officers then rendered first aid to Sharp, who was then taken to Jefferson Hospital in Washington Township, according to authorities. He was pronounced dead at 2:49 a.m.

During the call, Sharp had told dispatchers there was a man trying to get into his shed. When he went outside to confront him, he encountered another man trying to get into his truck. He threw a firecracker at them. This is when he told dispatchers his grandfather had left him a .45 caliber handgun in his will, but he’s not sure what he’s “allowed to do with that.”

In a previous press release, the Attorney General’s Office described the item found near Sharp’s body as a replica of a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun. Read more here: NJ Man Killed In Police-Involved Shooting At Home Identified

None of the three intruders was seen in the bodycam footage. No information about the potential intruders has been released as part of the investigation.

Sharp was an Air Force veteran of 21 years, according to his online obituary. He was described as a “talented carpenter” who worked at Miller and Son’s in Westville for many years.

“ Chuck had a love for reading, camping, fishing, and all animals,” the obituary reads. “He would also be the first to help others in need. Chuck was a funny guy and always knew how to make you laugh and could always put a smile on your face.”

This investigation is being conducted pursuant to Attorney General Directive 2019-4, which implements the statutory requirement that the Attorney General's Office conduct the investigation of any death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer's official capacity or while the decedent is in custody, and which establishes clear standards and procedures for conducting such investigations.

See related: NJ Man Killed In Police-Involved Shooting At Home: Authorities