TRENTON, NJ – The Attorney General’s Office has publicly released an audio recording of a 9-1-1 call and footage from police body-worn cameras. These releases pertain to a fatal police-involved shooting that occurred in Elizabeth, N.J., on Saturday, July 29.
The deceased individual, 42-year-old Estiben Alegria-Hurtado of Elizabeth, was shot by Officer Steven Lazo from the Elizabeth Police Department.
The initial investigation provides that on that day, at around 7:59 a.m., Elizabeth Police responded to 9-1-1 calls about a dispute at a multifamily residence on Amity Street. Upon their arrival, Mr. Alegria-Hurtado, wielding a kitchen knife, was found engaged in an altercation with a female.
As officers intervened, Mr. Alegria-Hurtado, still in possession of the knife, came into close proximity with the woman. This resulted in Officer Lazo discharging his firearm, injuring Mr. Alegria-Hurtado.
The said knife was later retrieved near the scene.
Emergency responders transported Mr. Alegria-Hurtado to University Hospital in Newark, where he was pronounced dead at 11:26 p.m. on Sunday, July 30. The Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) is currently reviewing the case, and recordings associated with the incident can be accessed here.