“Luke Mendez Dies After Old Bridge Police Officer Shoots Him During Confrontation”

The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office has released footage from the body-worn camera of an Old Bridge police officer involved in a fatal shooting. The incident occurred on April 24th when the officer, identified as Christopher Hammel, responded to a 911 call about a dispute at a home in Old Bridge’s Laurence Harbor section.

According to the audio from the 911 call, a woman reported that she wanted someone out of the house for being disrespectful. When Hammel arrived at the scene, he was informed by a person on the couch that the woman had invaded the privacy of the person involved in the dispute by placing cameras throughout the home without informing everyone.

Hammel proceeded to the bottom of a flight of stairs where the 26-year-old man, Luke Mendez, was located. He repeatedly asked Mendez to drop the knife he was holding, but Mendez refused to comply. As Mendez rushed down the stairs with the knife pointed towards Hammel, the officer fired his service weapon, hitting Mendez in the chest. Mendez later died at the hospital.

Throughout the encounter, Hammel attempted to de-escalate the situation, assuring Mendez that he was not in trouble and that he wanted to help him. However, Mendez failed to comply with Hammel’s instructions to put the knife down.

The fatal shooting is currently under investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. The release of the footage and audio is part of the Attorney General’s efforts to promote transparency and impartiality in the investigation of fatal police encounters.

The investigation is ongoing, and no further information has been released at this time. Once the investigation is completed, the case will be presented to a grand jury to determine whether criminal charges will be filed.

This incident highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement officers in handling potentially dangerous situations and underscores the need for effective de-escalation techniques and communication skills. It also raises important questions about police training and protocols for handling individuals in crisis situations..