Attorney General’s Office charges officer with first-degree aggravated manslaughter
Trenton, N.J. – The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General announced that a state grand jury has indicted Woodbridge Police Department Sgt. Marco Bruno in connection with the fatal police-involved shooting of Aamir Allen, 35, of Carteret, following a May 29, 2025 encounter in Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County.
The indictment, returned April 6 after deliberations by a state grand jury, charges Bruno with first-degree aggravated manslaughter. The case was investigated and presented by the Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), as required under New Jersey law mandating independent review of all deaths occurring during police encounters—a policy designed to ensure transparency and public trust in use-of-force investigations.
Grand jury finds sufficient evidence to indict
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport confirmed the charge and emphasized the state’s obligation to scrutinize law enforcement use of deadly force. “Every day, law enforcement bears the burden and responsibility of keeping the people of New Jersey safe,” Davenport said. “My office is fully committed to prosecuting this charge and ensuring that law enforcement only uses deadly force when lawful and necessary.”
According to OPIA, investigators presented extensive evidence to the grand jury, including witness testimony, 911 call recordings, body-worn camera footage, private surveillance video, radio transmissions, and autopsy findings. The presentation followed the Independent Prosecutor Directive of 2019, which requires all fatal police encounters to be reviewed by a grand jury.
Timeline of the fatal encounter
The shooting occurred shortly after 1:00 a.m. on May 29, 2025, when Woodbridge police officers were dispatched to East Tappen Street in the Port Reading section of the township following multiple 911 calls reporting an assault involving a man with a baseball bat.
Investigators said officers encountered Allen walking in the roadway while holding the bat. Officers repeatedly ordered him to drop the weapon as they followed him from a distance. Allen did not comply and continued walking before stopping outside a closed convenience store, where he remained holding the bat.
Sgt. Bruno arrived shortly after a radio transmission indicated Allen had allegedly struck occupied vehicles with the bat. After exiting his patrol vehicle and issuing commands, Bruno fired six shots from his service weapon, striking Allen.
Allen was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick at approximately 1:40 a.m. and was pronounced dead at 9:21 a.m., according to the Attorney General’s Office.
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Key Points
• Woodbridge police sergeant indicted on first-degree aggravated manslaughter charge
• Fatal shooting of Aamir Allen investigated under New Jersey’s independent review law
• Grand jury reviewed video, 911 calls, and forensic evidence before returning indictment
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Transparency measures and legal framework
State officials also released body camera footage, surveillance video, and 911 audio related to the incident in accordance with transparency policies adopted in 2019. Representatives of Allen’s family were given the opportunity to review the materials prior to their public release, the Attorney General’s Office said.
New Jersey law, specifically N.J.S.A. 52:17B-107(a)(2), requires the Attorney General to investigate any death occurring during a law enforcement encounter or while a person is in custody. The law further mandates that findings be presented to a grand jury to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.
The indictment marks a significant step in the legal process and reflects broader statewide efforts to increase accountability in police use-of-force cases. Such prosecutions remain relatively rare and often draw heightened public attention due to their implications for policing standards and community trust.
Next steps in the case
First-degree aggravated manslaughter in New Jersey carries a potential sentence of 10 to 30 years in state prison and is subject to the No Early Release Act, which requires defendants to serve at least 85% of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole. The charge also carries a potential fine of up to $200,000.
Sgt. Bruno is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. The case will proceed through the Middlesex County Superior Court system, where further hearings and potential trial dates are expected.
The investigation remains ongoing, and officials have indicated that no additional information will be released at this time.
