Authorities on Wednesday released 911 calls and body worn camera recordings from a fatal police-involved shooting on Aug. 8 in a New Brunswick apartment building.
Deborah Terrell, 68, of New Brunswick, was shot by an officer in the incident after she advanced towards police with a knife, recordings show.
The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General released body worn camera footage and 911 calls on Wednesday. (WARNING: This link contains videos that include scenes of fatal violence.)
Authorities were initially called to the apartment building on Neilson Street around 4 a.m. on Aug. 8 for a report of a woman disturbing other residents, officials said.
New Brunswick police officers tried to make contact with Terrell but she refused to speak with officers or open her door, authorities said.
Police were called back to the apartment building at 7:32 a.m., according to authorities.
A person who called 911 said Terrell was walking in and out of her apartment with large knife and threatening neighbors, according to a recording of the call.
She said that Terrell threatened a neighbor and tried putting the knife under his door, according to the call.
The caller said this was the second time Terrell had acted this way, having threatened a neighbor earlier the same morning, according to the recording.
Body worn camera recordings show Terrell answering the door with a long knife as police arrive at her apartment door.
She quickly closed the door as police tell her to put the knife down, recordings show. Terrell told police that another person was in the apartment with her, authorities said.
For about eight minutes, officers attempted to convince Terrell to come into the hall and talk to them as she yelled from inside the apartment and periodically slid the knife back and forth under the door, recordings show.
Eventually, Terrell opened the door, holding the knife when officers deployed pepper spray and a taser, recordings show.
She initially turned back into the apartment but then advanced toward the officers who continued using pepper spray and a taser before one officer shot her twice with his service weapon, recordings show.
WARNING: This video includes scenes of fatal violence.
Officers provided medical aid at the scene and Terrell was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital where she was pronounced dead, officials said.
A 12-inch knife was recovered from the scene, according to authorities.
New Brunswick and state officials faced heated questions from residents and family members during a recent community meeting about the shooting.
The incident is being investigated by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability under a 2019 directive by the attorney general’s office requiring investigations into fatal police encounters.
Matthew Enuco
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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com.
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