Cumberland County prosecutor releases police body cam video of fatal shooting

Deborah M. Marko | The Daily Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption WATCH: Vineland police body camera footage of fatal shooting Vineland police body camera footage of fatal shooting. Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office said Rashaun Washington had garden shears wrapped in a shirt during confrontation with police.

VINELAND – The Bridgeton man who was fatally shot by police on Saturday, alluded to having “an explosive device” but he was carrying a garden shear wrapped in a T-shirt, according to Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office.

Police body camera footage of the incident was made public later Thursday afternoon.

Officers, who responded to the 400 block of West Wood Street for reports of a man “acting suspiciously," used de-escalation techniques during their approximate 28-minute encounter with 37-year-old Rashaun Washington, Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae said in a news release issued Thursday afternoon.

At about the time the shots were fired, an officer released his K-9 for about 15 seconds while officers tried “to immobilize Washington and secure the item that was wrapped up in the T-shirt,” Webb-McRae said.

The prosecutor said the police body worn camera footage shows the shirt-wrapped item was a garden shear with an 8.25-inch blade.

More: Family of Rashaun Washington gets support, calls for change

Videos of the incident, captured by bystanders and witnesses, have been shared on social media since the shooting.

When contacted Thursday, Vineland Police Chief Rudy Beu said he could not comment on a ongoing investigation by the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office. He did confirm one officer is on administrative leave.

WATCH: Vineland police body camera footage of fatal shooting Vineland police body camera footage of fatal shooting. Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office said Rashaun Washington had garden shears wrapped in a shirt during confrontation with police.

The chief also declined to comment as to whether any Vineland officer was injured during the encounter.

The prosecutor's office asks anyone with information about the incident to contact Detective Joseph Lowry at 856-453-0486, ext. 11197.

Anyone who wants to share information anonymously may download CCPOTIP app for Android or iPhone devices; send a tip via text to 847411, using the keyword CCPOTIP in the message line; or submit a tip at the prosecutor's Facebook page or website, njccop.org.

Deborah M. Marko: 856-63-5256; dmarko@gannettnj.com; Twitter: @dmarko_dj

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