Rashaun Washington, 37, was shot to death after police answered a call for a man acting suspiciously on the front porch of a home in Vineland. Watch video
Only one officer fired his gun during a fatal encounter between Vineland police and a Bridgeton man on Saturday morning, authorities revealed Monday.
Rashaun Washington, 37, was shot to death after police answered a call for a man acting suspiciously on the front porch of a home on East Wood Street.
Vineland Chief of Police Rudolph Beu placed the officer who fired on paid administrative leave, as is departmental policy, according to a press statement issued by Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae.
Webb-McRae did not identify the officer.
Bystander video shows a shirtless Washington pacing back and forth during the incident, which lasted for several minutes before shots were fired. He begins advancing in the direction of officers and shots are fired as he starts running. Three shots are heard on one of the videos.
A witness said Washington was sitting on the porch of the duplex and refused to leave. Washington claimed he knew someone who lived in one of the units, according to Jose Pagan.
Authorities have not confirmed these details or Pagan’s claim that one officer yelled “bomb” before shots were fired.
Andaiye Al-Uqdah, an attorney for the Washington family, said the man was holding a water bottle and his shirt, but had no weapon.
She questioned the actions of police and called Washington’s death “a murder.”
“They can find no other way of handling the situation other than to kill him?” she asked. “There’s no reason this man should be taken away from his family. It’s just disgusting.”
Washington leaves behind two children, as well as his parents and siblings, most of whom live in Camden, Al-Uqdah said.
The county prosecutor’s office is handling the investigation of the shooting.
Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact prosecutor’s office Detective Joseph Lowry at 856-453-0486, ext. 11197. An anonymous tip can be submitted through the prosecutor’s Facebook page.
Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips.