TRENTON — A state grand jury has voted not to file any criminal charges against a New Jersey State Police (NJSP) detective at the conclusion of its deliberations regarding a death on July 29, 2025 that occurred during an encounter with NJSP detectives assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force. The decedent was previously identified as Shawn Phillips, 37, of West Berlin, New Jersey.
Phillips’s death was investigated by the Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) and presented to New Jersey residents serving on the grand jury in accordance with the Independent Prosecutor Directive of 2019, which was issued following the enactment of a state law requiring the Office of the Attorney General to investigate deaths that occur during an encounter with law enforcement.
The investigation included a review of police radio transmissions, body-worn camera and surveillance videos, witness and law enforcement statements, a ballistics report, and autopsy results from the medical examiner. This evidence was presented to a state grand jury. After hearing the testimony and evidence, the grand jury finished deliberating on July 13, 2026, and voted “no bill,” concluding no criminal charges should be filed against the NJSP detective who used deadly force.
According to the investigation, two NJSP detectives assigned to the Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force were conducting an investigation involving Mr. Phillips when they observed him on July 29, 2025 standing on the front steps of a residence on Haddon Avenue, in the vicinity of Bate Avenue. One of the detectives, wearing plain clothes and a tactical vest marked “Police” on the back, approached Mr. Phillips from around the corner of the residence and ordered him not to move. Phillips reached into his right front pants pocket and retrieved a firearm. The detective fired his service weapon three times, striking Mr. Phillips. Medical aid was rendered by the detective, and later EMS personnel, who transported Mr. Phillips to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey. Mr. Phillips was pronounced deceased at 2:13 p.m. Law enforcement recovered a revolver, loaded with live rounds, at the scene after the shooting.
Footage related to this incident was previously released and is posted online at https://njoag.box.com/s/u7mfiz03amjqgh65qoo0unw2uqnqklb2
N.J.S.A. 52:17B-107(a)(2), requires the Attorney General’s Office to conduct investigations of a person’s death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody. It requires that all such investigations be presented to a grand jury to determine if the evidence supports the return of an indictment against the involved officers. The grand jury is instructed on the elements of the potential criminal offenses, including criminal homicide offenses, that could be brought and, as required by statutes, the grand jury is instructed on self-defense and other forms of legal justification.
A conflicts check was conducted pursuant to the Independent Prosecutor Directive and no actual or potential conflicts of interest were found involving any individual assigned to the investigation. Prior to presentation to the grand jury, the investigation was reviewed by Deputy First Assistant Attorney General Martha Nye in accordance with the policies and procedures established for these presentations.
Now that the investigation has concluded, pursuant to the Independent Prosecutor Directive and SOPs, OPIA will determine whether any officer should be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency for administrative review in accordance with the AG’s Internal Affairs Policy & Procedures. OPIA will monitor any resulting review and take such actions as are necessary to ensure that the review is completed in a timely fashion, and that appropriate actions are taken based on the results of the review.
Further information about how fatal police encounters are investigated in New Jersey under the Independent Prosecutor Directive can be found here.