Dramatic moment New Jersey cops shoot dead an emotionally disturbed man who charged at them with a pair of scissors when they tried to enter his room
- WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT
- James P. Manzo, 27, was killed in the incident in Asbury Park, New Jersey
- Cops responded to a 911 call reporting that he was behaving erratically
- Tried to talk to Manzo through his door and coax him out of his room
- Manzo charged out into the hallway wielding scissors and was shot five times
Dramatic footage has emerged showing the moment police officers in New Jersey fatally shot an emotionally disturbed man who charged at them with scissors.
James P. Manzo, 27, was killed in the police encounter on July 23 in Asbury Park, where police were responding to a call that he was acting erratically at the boarding house where he lived.
Newly released bodycam footage shows police and paramedics trying first to speak to Manzo through the door to his room a little after 10pm.
Manzo initially speaks with police in his doorway before slamming the door on the officers.
James P. Manzo (above) was killed by police after charging with a pair of scissors
‘We’re not trying to arrest you, we’re just trying to have a conversation, man,’ an officer can be heard telling Manzo in the video.
‘I don’t have to answer any questions. I know my rights,’ Manzo shouts through his closed door
A paramedic also tries to speak with Manzo through the door, asking if he can gather some medical information ‘to make sure you’re alright.’
‘I’m not trying to jam you up man, would that be alright?’ the paramedic asks.
Manzo refuses and again tells the officers to leave.
Cops were called to this rooming house where Manzo lived on a report that he was emotionally disturbed and acting erratically
Police and paramedics tried speaking to Manzo through his door when he refused to come out
When a man tries to enter his room, Manzo charges into the hallway with his arms outstretched
After some period of time, one man opens the door and begins to enter Manzo’s room at the boarding house.
In a confusing flurry of action, Manzo charges out into the hallway with his arms outstretched.
Five shots ring out and Manzo slumps to the floor of the hallway.
Officers ask the man who tried to enter the room, who has fallen to the floor, if he is all right.
‘Shots fired, Asbury shots fired,’ one officer radios to dispatch.
Manzo fell to the floor immediately as shots rang out in the hallway
Manzo was rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center and pronounced dead
Manzo was rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 10.52pm.
The New Jersey Attorney General investigates all fatal police shootings, and is currently probing Manzo’s death.
The Attorney General’s office said that the probe is ongoing and that no further information would be released at this time.