EDISON – The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office released video footage on May 13 from three body-worn cameras related to a fatal police-involved shooting that occurred last month in Edison.
According to the preliminary investigation, Officer Daniel Bradley and Officer Joseph Elqumos of the Edison Police Department responded to a 911 call made shortly after 3:45 p.m. April 12 reporting a male threatening an individual with an axe on Judson Street.
When officers arrived, they reportedly attempted to speak to Merrill Rambarose, 49, of Edison, on his balcony. Rambarose then went inside his apartment and emerged moments later armed with a short-handled axe, according to reports.
Officers ordered him to back up and drop the weapon. He did not comply with the officers’ commands and instead charged towards the officers with the axe in his hand, according to the statement.
At this time, Elquomos and Bradley had both fired their weapons, fatally wounding Rambarose.
An axe was recovered Rambarose, according to the statement.
Officers and emergency medical personnel rendered first aid to Rambarose, who was pronounced deceased on scene via telemetry at 4:41 p.m.
The fatal shooting remains under investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA). The recordings are being released pursuant to policies established by the Attorney General’s Office in 2019 that are designed to promote the fair, impartial, and transparent investigation of fatal police encounters.
Investigators met with Rambarose’s family on May 13 to review the recordings, according to the statement.
The recordings are posted online at https://njoag.app.box.com/s/qqq3m1wx52b1xwaottfjkld41cdvm3wc
The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time.