WAYNE, N.J. — A man armed with two swords was shot by police after allegedly threatening to harm officers, just hours after he had been arrested and released from custody, according to Patch.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office released the body camera video of the Feb. 14 incident on March 12. The man faces multiple charges, including assault and weapons possession, in connection with events leading up to the shooting, the prosecutor’s office said.
Wayne Police Department officers first encountered the suspect earlier that day after responding to a single-vehicle crash in which he was the driver. He allegedly became argumentative and combative with an officer and was arrested before being released on a summons, according to Patch.
Later that evening, a 911 caller reported that a man had intentionally ingested approximately 20 Xanax pills. When officers arrived at the residence, the suspect appeared on a second-floor balcony, holding two swords, and allegedly threatened to jump and stab the officers, according to the prosecutor’s office.
“In the ensuing interaction, he stated to the officers on scene that he would jump down from the balcony and stab them,” the prosecutor’s office said in a release. “He retreated to a second-floor room and closed the door.”
The suspect then retreated inside and closed a door. Officers secured the perimeter and called for additional resources to handle a barricaded subject.
Moments later, the suspect reemerged with the swords and moved down the stairs toward officers “at a fast pace,” the prosecutor’s office stated. Body camera footage captured officers repeatedly instructing him to drop the weapons, with a lieutenant saying, “Drop ‘em, drop ‘em now, drop ‘em now!”
When he did not comply, a Wayne Police lieutenant fired his service weapon seven times, striking the suspect, officials said.
Officers immediately rendered aid before the suspect was transported to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center for treatment.
The suspect has since been charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, as well as terroristic threats, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He was released from custody under pretrial monitoring.
An investigation into the shooting remains ongoing and will be presented to a grand jury to determine whether the use of force was legally justified.
