Fourteen people were shot to death in encounters with New Jersey police officers in 2018. That's the same number killed by police in 2017.

Of those killed in 2018, seven were black, five were white and two were Latino. One of those killed was female.

The youngest was 19 years old, with the rest ranging in age from 29 to 56

Police officers may use deadly force only if they're protecting themselves or someone else from imminent death or serious injury, if the escape of a suspect would likely cause death or serious harm to someone else, and if the use of deadly force won't injure an innocent person.

, with the state Attorney General reviewing the findings. The state AG investigates use of force deaths involving the state police.

Don't Edit

This body camera image from Vineland police shows a July standoff between officers and Rashaun Washington.

The process for investigating these shootings is under debate, with some arguing that county prosecutors have a conflict of interest when it comes to investigating local officers.

The state Assembly and Senate passed legislation last year that would require the state AG to also handle investigations involving municipal officers, but Gov. Phil Murphy hasn't signed the bill.

Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal has spoken out against the idea, arguing that this change could slow down the investigation process.

Here is a rundown of 2018 fatal shootings by police. All of these cases remain under investigation.

Don't Edit

Edward C. Gandy Jr. (Photo provided)

Jan. 22, 2018: Edward C. Gandy Jr.

Edward C. Gandy Jr. called 911 to report that he had a

Millville police knew Gandy, 46, from previous encounters related to his mental health issues. When an officer responded, Gandy walked toward him and ignored orders to show his hands, police said. He held his hands behind his back, then made gestures as if he was preparing to fire a weapon. The officer fired, killing Gandy.

The shooting remains under investigation.

Don't Edit

Authorities released dashboard camera footage showing the encounter with Edward C. Gandy.

Don't Edit

Scott Mielentz

March 21, 2018: Scott Mielentz

Scott Mielentz entered a Panera Bread in Princeton

and held cops at bay for five hours. He had suffered from mental health issues for several years, according to public records. Mielentz, 56, was shot to death after he raised his weapon and pointed it toward officers. The state Division of Criminal Justice investigated and

determined that the shooting was justified

.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Investigators released video of Scott Mielentz's standoff with police.

Don't Edit

Jose M. Pietri (Salem County Correctional Facility)

April 14, 2018: Jose M. Pietri

Jose M. Pietri allegedly killed Derek White, 47, of Salem, and wounded a 35-year-old woman in Winslow Township before leading police on a chase that ended in Millville. Pietri, 55,

, got out and apparently drew a weapon as officers closed in. A Millville cop fired 14 shots, killing Pietri. A use of force report indicates Pietri threatened officers with a firearm and fired at police. An investigation into the officer's use of deadly force is ongoing.

Don't Edit

Investigators released dashcam video of the deadly encounter with Jose Pietri in Millville.

Don't Edit

June 8, 2018: Todd Gregory

Todd Gregory

in Warren County. Gregory allegedly injured a teenager in a shooting

and police were on the lookout for his vehicle. Troopers spotted his pickup truck near the Delaware Water Gap and pursued him. They found the vehicle parked in Hardwick and, as they approached, a shot was fired from inside the truck. One of the troopers opened fire. While this case is labeled a police-involved shooting, it's still not clear if Gregory, 47, killed himself or was killed by the trooper's round. The Attorney General's Office is investigating the shooting.

Don't Edit

LaShanda Anderson (Facebook)

June 9, 2018: LaShanda Anderson

A Deptford Township police officer shot and killed a woman who police said tried to run him down with her SUV following a report of a shoplifting. Three shoplifting suspects fled the Marshalls store as officers arrived.

, 36, of Philadelphia, refused police orders to stop and allegedly aimed her vehicle at the cop, who fired three rounds, striking her twice. The Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office

investigated the shooting and presented it to a grand jury

. The grand jury decided not to indict the officer.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Stephen Cogelia (National Gun Violence Memorial)

June 12, 2018: Stephen Cogelia

State Police responded to a home in Hardwick Township after

. Cogelia was armed with a hunting knife when five troopers arrived. One trooper opened fire, killing the man. The Attorney General is investigating the shooting.

Don't Edit

Tahaij Wells (Mercer County Prosecutor's Office)

June 17, 2018, Tahaij Wells

Suspected gunman Tahaij Wells, 32, was killed and nearly 30 people injured in a gun battle at the Art All Night festival in Trenton. Investigators believe the shooting was gang-related and that arriving police officers killed Wells. While most of those injured were innocent bystanders, two men who were wounded were charged for their alleged involvement in the shooting. The county prosecutor is investigating police use of force in the incident.

Don't Edit

Timothy Deal (Facebook)

June 22, 2018, Timothy Deal

Atlantic City police were investigating a hit-and-run auto accident when Timothy Deal, 32, walked up to the scene. Deal, who was not involved in the crash,

in an unprovoked attack. The wounded officer shot Deal. An autopsy determined the man died of multiple gunshot wounds. The officer was treated and released for his injuries. A spokeswoman for the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office confirmed that the agency has completed its investigation of the shooting and forwarded it to the state Division of Criminal Justice for its review.

Don't Edit

Investigators released body camera footage of the confrontation between police and Timothy Deal.

Don't Edit

Rashaun Washington (Washington family)

July 14, 2018, Rashaun Washington

Rashaun Washington told Vineland police officers he had an explosive device when they confronted him in July. During a 28-minute encounter with officers, Washington, 37, taunted them, saying they would have to shoot him. Body camera footage shows the officers pleading with Washington to surrender. He eventually runs toward the officers and is shot to death. The item he was holding turned out to be a pair of garden shears wrapped in a shirt. The investigation into this shooting is ongoing, the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office confirmed.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Body camera footage shows the standoff between police and Rashaun Washington in July.

Don't Edit

Allen Travers (National Gun Violence Memorial)

Sept. 25, 2018, Allen Travers

Following a domestic incident at his home in East Orange, Allen Travers, 37, boarded a public bus, put a gun to the driver's head and told her to drive. Police learned of the hijacking and followed the bus until Travers exited the vehicle in Newark. When he pointed his gun at the officers, they fired. He died a short time later at a hospital. The Essex County Prosecutor's Office is investigating the shooting.

Don't Edit

Paul Braswell (Essex County Correctional Facility)

Sept. 26, 2018, Paul Braswell

When Newark police stopped a car as part of a gun investigation, the two armed occupants tried to escape, authorities said. Both were shot by police and Paul Braswell, 29, of Newark, died in the vehicle. Investigators found three firearms inside the car. The Essex County Prosecutor's Office is investigating the shooting.

Don't Edit

Jacob L. Servais (Salem County Correctional Facility)

Oct. 18, 2018, Jacob Servais

Authorities were investigating a brutal home invasion in Cape May County when they encountered a suspect in Cumberland County on Oct. 18. Jacob L. Servais, 19, of Millville, tried to run down a prosecutor's office detective with his car during the incident, according to the Attorney General's office. The detective fired three shots and killed Servais. The Attorney General's office is investigating the shooting. At the time of his death, Servais was facing charges in three unrelated cases. Those charges included aggravated assault and death by auto.

Don't Edit

Edward M. Walsh (National Gun Violence Memorial)

Nov. 12, 2018, Edward M. Walsh

Police were looking for Edward M. Walsh, 39, of Manahawkin, after he was accused of assaulting a woman. He was wanted on charges including kidnapping and aggravated assault. Officers found him hiding in a million-dollar home in Mantoloking, where he tried to hold them off with a knife. When he refused to surrender and then stabbed a police dog, officers shot him. The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office is investigating the shooting.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Sean Sharpe (National Gun Violence Memorial)

Dec. 15, 2018, Sean Sharpe

Sean Sharpe, 54, of Orange, held his ex-girlfriend hostage for more than seven hours in December. His ex had a restraining order against him, but when she arrived at her Newark home with their 11-year-old daughter, he was waiting for them with a gun, police said. The child escaped, but Sharpe held police at bay and vowed that he would not surrender. Just before police shot him, Sharpe pointed the gun at his ex-girlfriend's head, then aimed it at police, investigators said. The Essex County Prosecutor's Office is reviewing the shooting.

Don't Edit

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com's newsletters.