TRENTON, NJ — A state grand jury has concluded its investigation without filing criminal charges against two Deputy U.S. Marshals involved in the fatal shooting of Esteban DeJesus, Jr., 56, of Orlando, Florida. The decision, announced after deliberations that ended on May 20, 2024, found that the law enforcement officers were not criminally liable for their actions on July 8, 2023, in Jersey City.
The incident occurred when members of the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, which included the Deputy U.S. Marshals and a state trooper, were attempting to apprehend Mr. DeJesus, who was wanted for murder and attempted murder following a July 7 incident in Orlando. The encounter took place around 11:10 p.m. on Jefferson Avenue, where Mr. DeJesus reportedly approached the officers with a machete and ignored commands to drop the weapon. The marshals responded by firing their service weapons, resulting in Mr. DeJesus’s death shortly after at the Jersey City Medical Center.
The grand jury’s decision follows a comprehensive investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), involving interviews, photographs, ballistics, and autopsy results, which was presented in line with the 2019 Independent Prosecutor Directive. This directive ensures that all law enforcement-related deaths are examined under stringent procedural guidelines to maintain transparency and objectivity.
The evidence, including the recovered machete, was reviewed by the grand jury, which was instructed on the legal standards including self-defense and other justifications under New Jersey law. The findings concluded that the actions of the Deputy U.S. Marshals did not warrant criminal charges, closing the case on this high-profile shooting.