BRIDGETON — Community leaders are asking for patience as authorities investigate the death of a man who was shot by police.
Darryl L. Fuqua, 23, of Ramblewood Drive, died Friday after being shot around 4 p.m. on South Avenue by a Bridgeton Police Department officer, according to the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office.
Darryl L. “De Rose” FuquaFacebook
The fatal shooting occurred around the block from where Jerame Reid was killed in another police-involved shooting during a traffic stop in December 2014.
Two months after the Reid shooting, protesters made their way from South Avenue to Broad Street. Days after Fuqua’s death, no plans have been released yet about any kind of protest.
“To my knowledge, and from what I’m told from folks on the ground, things are calm and I think that’s a good thing,” said Richard Smith, president of the New Jersey State Conference of the NAACP.
“I do have confidence and trust in (Prosecutor) Jennifer Webb-McRae that she will do a thorough investigation in regards to what happened — what the shooting entailed — and I’m sure she will be transparent throughout the process.”‘
Smith was also recently named the warden for Cumberland County Jail.
At the time he was shot, Fuqua was being pursued by police, authorities said. Authorities discovered a gun on the ground near where Fuqua was found, the prosecutor’s office said.
Per New Jersey Attorney General’s Office guidelines, Webb-McRae –whose office is handling the probe into the shooting — has not released any additional details about the shooting, including what led to the pursuit or the name of the officer.
Mayor Albert Kelly was in the neighborhood where the shooting occurred Saturday and said that the community was relatively calm, which he appreciates.
“People are concerned, but they are having a wait-and-see attitude in terms of the investigation,” Kelly said.
Bridgeton Police Chief Michael Gaimari said the police officer who shot Fuqua is not being identified at this time, but is a five-year veteran of the department. The officer was taken to Inspira Health Network Bridgeton for observation after the shooting. Two other officers involved in Friday’s pursuit were also taken to the hospital for minor injuries.
Gaimari placed all three officers on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation.
A memorial for Darryl Laqua “De Rose” Fuqua is seen at the site between South Avenue and Grove Street where he was shot by a police officer Friday afternoon.Rebecca Everett | For NJ.com
Gwen Benson, Fuqua’s mother, questions why her son was pursued by police Friday and wants the cop to be charged for Fuqua’s death.
In a letter sent to Webb-McRae and Kelly, Salem County-based National Awareness Alliance founder Walter Hudson asks that the investigation be transferred to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and calls for a more transparent investigation.
“I am astounded by the lack of leadership in the both of you, surrounding the murder of Darryl Fuqua,” Hudson’s letter states. “You have not been forthcoming with the family of Darryl Fuqua and the community of Bridgeton.”
As of Monday afternoon, no vigil has been publicized yet for Fuqua’s death.
Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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