TRENTON — A state grand jury concluded its deliberations regarding the death of Bernard Placide, 22, of Englewood, New Jersey, who was fatally shot by an Englewood police officer on September 3, 2022, and decided not to file any criminal charges against Englewood Police Officer Luana Sharpe. The investigation, including witness interviews, video footage reviews, and autopsy results, was presented to the grand jury by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. The grand jury’s decision was reached on April 22, 2024, in accordance with the Independent Prosecutor Directive of 2019.
The incident unfolded when the Englewood Police Department responded to a violent domestic disturbance call on West Englewood Avenue at roughly 8:29 a.m. Officers found Mr. Placide holding a knife in a bedroom, leading officers to instruct him to drop the weapon. Despite attempts to disarm him with a taser, Mr. Placide did not comply, resulting in Officer Sharpe firing her weapon, ultimately leading to Mr. Placide’s death. The investigation involved examining body-worn camera footage, audio recordings of the incident, and conducting interviews. Officer Sharpe was treated for a hand injury sustained during the encounter.
A 2019 law mandated that investigations into deaths during encounters with law enforcement be presented to a grand jury to determine if criminal charges are warranted. Following this case, the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability is responsible for evaluating if any administrative actions are necessary based on the investigation’s results. It was emphasized that no potential conflicts of interest were identified during the investigation. Further details and procedures can be found in the Independent Prosecutor Directive and the SOPs outlined by OPIA regarding grand jury presentations and investigations of this nature.
The Office of the Attorney General has made available additional information related to this decision, including links to the Independent Prosecutor Directive and OPIA Grand Jury SOPs.