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TRENTON
– A state grand jury today voted to
take no action in connection with the death
of Donald Hoffman, 27, of Hammonton, who
was fatally shot by a member of the Atlantic
County Emergency Response Team during an
armed standoff on April 26.
The
shooting was investigated by the Attorney
General’s Shooting Response Team,
made up of representatives from the Division
of Criminal Justice and the New Jersey State
Police Major Crime Unit. The state grand
jury heard evidence developed through the
team’s investigation.
The
investigation revealed that Hoffman was
fatally shot by a member of the Atlantic
County Emergency Response Team after Hoffman
pointed a handgun at the officer and refused
to obey the officer’s repeated commands
to drop the weapon. The shooting happened
shortly after 4 a.m. on April 26 in the
residence on 13th Street in Hammonton where
Hoffman lived with his mother. The shooting
followed a 12-hour standoff at the home.
The
events started the previous afternoon, when
Hoffman, who suffered from schizophrenia,
pointed a handgun at an emergency medical
technician outside of the Deptford Township
Emergency Services Building on Cooper Street
and stole his cell phone. Hoffman fled by
car, and police pursued him to his residence,
where he entered the house, armed with the
handgun, about 5 p.m. Police secured the
perimeter of the house, and the Hammonton
and Atlantic County SWAT teams were called
to the scene. A police negotiator communicated
on and off with Hoffman throughout the night
to try to get him to surrender peacefully.
In the early morning hours, canisters of
pepper spray were fired into the house,
but Hoffman continued to ignore commands
to leave the building.
When
members of the Atlantic County Emergency
Response Team entered the house shortly
after 4 a.m., Hoffman pointed a gun at one
of them, refusing repeated orders to drop
the gun, included a warning from the officer
that he would fire his weapon if Hoffman
did not drop his gun. The officer subsequently
fired his service weapon, striking Hoffman
in the chest and fatally wounding him. Two
rounds were fired with a single pull of
the trigger, both striking Hoffman.
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