New Jersey State Police detective fatally shoots California man during investigation in Bergen County
MOONACHIE, N.J. (Bergen County) — A 30-year-old California man was fatally shot by a New Jersey State Police detective Wednesday evening during a criminal investigation in Bergen County, according to an update released by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.
The man was identified as Roberto Castro-Quinonez, 30, of Bakersfield, California. The Attorney General’s Office said the identity of the detective involved in the shooting is not being released at this time.
According to preliminary information, New Jersey State Police detectives were conducting a criminal investigation around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, in the area of Gotham Parkway near its intersection with West Commercial Avenue in Moonachie. The detectives were working in plain clothes at the time.
Authorities said one of the detectives was approached by Castro-Quinonez, and an interaction between the two followed. A second detective subsequently arrived at the scene to assist.
Shortly afterward, one of the detectives fired his department-issued weapon twice, striking Castro-Quinonez, according to the Attorney General’s Office. Officers attempted to provide medical aid, but Castro-Quinonez was pronounced dead at 5:44 p.m.
The Attorney General’s Office did not provide additional details about what occurred during the interaction or what prompted the detective to fire his weapon.
The fatal shooting remains under investigation by the Attorney General’s Office, as required under a 2019 New Jersey law governing deaths that occur during encounters with law enforcement officers.
Under N.J.S.A. 52:17B-107(a)(2), the Attorney General’s Office must investigate deaths involving law enforcement officers acting in their official capacity, as well as deaths that occur while a person is in custody. The law also requires that all such investigations be presented to a grand jury to determine whether the evidence supports criminal charges against the officer or officers involved.
