AG’s Office Investigating Fatal Police Shooting in Knowlton Township

Knowlton Township, N.J. – The Attorney General’s Office is conducting an investigation of a fatal police shooting that occurred on November 7, 2021 in Knowlton, N.J. One male civilian sustained fatal injuries. The decedent’s identity is not being released at this time.

According to the preliminary investigation, members of the New Jersey State Police were dispatched to respond to a motor vehicle incident.  Shortly after 1:30 a.m., two Troopers approached a vehicle which was stopped with the front end in a ditch, and in the vehicle were a driver and a dog. While Troopers were attempting to communicate with the driver, the driver fired a weapon from within the vehicle and shot the dog. Troopers then fired their weapons. The driver was subsequently transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Pennsylvania and was pronounced deceased shortly after 2:30 a.m.

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.

The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time.