Update from Howell Police Chief Andrew Kudrick:
INCIDENT NOTIFICATION
OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING – FATAL
Last night at approximately 1030 pm, Howell Police Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call from a person claiming to be dying after being stabbed by his brother. The caller and residence were in Farmingdale Boro.
For those not aware. Farmingdale is surrounded by Howell but is under the police jurisdiction of the NJ State Police. We regularly assist them with calls for service. This would have been no different if they were to have initially received this 9-1-1 call. We would have responded.
Our 9-1-1 operator immediately relayed the call information to Howell patrol units. The initial Howell officer was on scene within approximately three minutes. He was immediately confronted by an armed male who refused several commands to drop a bladed object. The male refused these commands while approaching and challenging the officer. The officer was forced to defend himself along with several other involved parties who were present. The officer fired multiple rounds striking the male. Despite the highly emotional scene, the officer immediately began life saving efforts on the male. Several additional Howell units arrived and assisted as well. They were joined by State Police Troopers. The male who was shot was pronounced deceased at the scene. The involved officer was not injured but transported to the hospital for trauma.
Multiple agencies are involved in this investigation. State Police are handling the crime scene and investigation. The Shooting Response Team from the Attorney General’s Office is handling the officer-involved shooting. The Professional Responsibilities Unit of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office is also involved as well as Howell Police Internal Affairs.
As with any officer-involved shooting, those involved will be placed in an administrative capacity until resolution of the investigation. As per AG policy, the name of the officer is withheld until the investigation is substantially complete.
As the Chief of Police, I can only release limited information in this case. This is because of jurisdictional authority and to uphold the integrity of the investigation. This includes the rights of the involved officers.
Although the final disposition of this case rests with the AG’s office, I publicly commend my officer for taking the necessary and immediate action to end the deadly threat he was presented with. Without doubt, he saved additional loss of life. I have the confidence Howell officers abided by policy and upheld the integrity of their position and the trust of the community.
When further information is released by the other agencies you will gain a better understanding the violent, dangerous and highly emotional environment encountered by the involved officers.
-Chief Kudrick
FARMINGDALE, N.J. –The Attorney General’s Shooting Response Task Force is conducting an investigation of a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday night on Walnut Drive in Farmingdale, N.J. One civilian sustained fatal injuries.
This investigation is being conducted pursuant to a law enacted in January 2019, Senate Bill 1036, which requires that the Attorney General’s Office conduct investigations of a person’s 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.
[adrotate banner="278]The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time.
