Watch CBS News

Garfield Police Shooting Case To Be Reviewed By Grand Jury

HACKENSACK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Bergen County's prosecutor says a grand jury will review the case of a police shooting that left a Garfield man dead after he fled from custody.

Prosecutor John Molinelli has said 19-year-old Malik Williams had turned himself in on an aggravated assault warrant and was being processed at Garfield police headquarters when he escaped by running out a rear door in December.

Officials said Williams was tracked to a garage of a private residence and barricaded himself inside. The prosecutor said officers opened fire after finding Williams armed with tools inside the garage.

The shooting has led to protest marches by community leaders.

The prosecutor also took the unusual step of releasing a statement Thursday saying Williams had one bullet hole in his back and it was an exit wound.

That contradicted preliminary autopsy results reported by the Williams' family attorney which were recently cited by The Record newspaper.

(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.