The fatal shooting of a man by Atlantic City police last summer was justified, an investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office found.
An independent review by the Attorney General’s Office agreed with that determination.
Timothy Deal, 32, was shot dead June 22, after he allegedly stabbed a police officer in what Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner at the time called an unprovoked attack.
Body camera video was released in July, showing the incident unfold.
But loved ones of Deal have continued to say that the shooting should not have happened.
On Monday, Tyner said the use of deadly force was legally justified and it was not necessary to present the matter to a grand jury.
Atlantic City police responded to the 600 block of North Kentucky Avenue just before 6:30 p.m. June 22, for a hit-and-run with injuries, according to previously released information.
While they were conducting an investigation, an uninvolved man approached and entered the scene, according to the report.
An Atlantic City officer was stabbed in the torso with a knife, and then fired his weapon, striking Deal.
Two of the officers present were wearing body cameras, which captured the incident.
The footage was consistent with multiple witnesses, which included civilians and members of the Atlantic City Fire Department who were there for the crash.
The officer who shot Deal has not been identified.
He told investigators that he saw Deal pull a knife, and that he ordered him to drop it.
The officer said he fired his weapon after he was stabbed because he was in fear for his life.
