Family of Andrew Jerome Washington, shot and killed by Jersey City police, says officers mishandled mental health crisis
JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- Jersey City police officers shot and killed 52-year-old Andrew Jerome Washington on Sunday night after he allegedly charged at them with a knife.
Monday, police provided details about what happened before officers shot Washington, but his family said they still have unanswered questions.
Memorial candles were lit outside the building where Washington was shot and killed.
"He was a peaceful, loving, funny type of guy," said Lisa Mendez, Washington's aunt. "I want justice for him."
Mendez said the encounter was a mental health crisis that police mishandled.
"Why did they bust in there like he was a criminal, like he was threatening someone? He was in his own place," said Mendez. "He has bipolar. He has a mental condition."
"We called the crisis center because we noticed he wasn't taking his medication. He wasn't acting normal," Mendez continued. "Paramedics came, and instead of them calling the crisis center, they called the SWAT team. We was like, 'Why? Please don't hurt him.'"
Watch Jersey City officials share update on shooting
At a news conference Monday, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and police officials said EMTs arrived first, but called police saying they felt unsafe entering Washington's apartment.
Police said officers spent an hour speaking to Washington through the door and then forcibly opened it when they became worried he might harm himself or someone else in the apartment.
"They entered and they were charged by Mr. Washington with a knife in hand, and they used force deploying both a firearm and a Taser," said Fulop.
"What he had in his hand when they walked through the door after they busted into his private space, I don't know, because they wouldn't let us see anything, and I hope the cameras that they have so we can see for ourselves how it actually happened," said Mendez.
Police said they had encounters with Washington before. Washington's family said police responded to a similar mental health crisis in 2011 and shot him in the arm.
"Mr. Washington is sick. He's not bad, he's not evil. He was sick. But that didn't make him any less dangerous, unfortunately, to those officers at that time, and they had to take what reasonable steps they could to protect themselves. We all wish it had ended differently," said Jersey City Public Safety Director James Shea.
"We do feel that the use of force yesterday was justified based on the circumstances and in line with police department training," said Fulop.
The attorney general is now investigating and will decide whether the body camera footage is released.
Relatives of Washington told CBS New York they desperately wanted to go with police to talk to Washington and help him calm down. They said officers told them they were not allowed to.