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Passaic County sheriff’s officers were justified in fatally shooting Paterson man | Paterson Times

Passaic County sheriff’s officers were justified in fatally shooting Paterson man

Christopher-Clark-shooting

Three officers of the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office were justified in fatally shooting a Paterson man in a 2020 incident, authorities said.

Christopher Clark, 36, of Paterson, died after three officers fired their service weapons at him on 16th Avenue near Park Avenue on May 23, 2020.

Sergeants Americo Escobar, Helman Fava, and Jose Vargas were justified in firing the shots that killed Clark, a state grand jury determined after hearing testimony and reviewing evidence.

Authorities said the grand jury deliberated on Tuesday and declined to charge the three officers.

Escobar, Fava, and Vargas, in uniform and in a marked Ford Explorer, responded to 30 Park Avenue at around 1:11 a.m. after shots were fired in the area.

Police did not find any victims at the scene, but recovered three 9mm shell casings.

Escobar, Fava, and Vargas drove passed the area after seeing a heavy police presence. They turned left from Market Street to Summer Street. They saw a group and asked if the group was okay. They observed the group looking at Clark cross the street.

Clark walked to the front of an apartment building on Summer Street and tried to enter it without success.

Vargas approached him, but Clark ran. Clark ran towards 16th Avenue with Vargas behind him.

Fava and Escobar followed in patrol car.

Mid-block on 16th Avenue, Clark tripped and fell. Vargas took out his weapon and ordered Clark to remain on the ground.

A civilian witness told authorities Clark refused to obey orders. Clark rolled over, faced the officer, and reached toward his waistband, the witness reported seeing.

All three officers testified that they saw Clark rise from the ground with a gun in his right hand. Clark pointed the gun at the officers.

“Gun!” Vargas yelled and fired his service weapon. Escobar and Fava also fired their weapons at Clark.

Clark was died at the scene.

Police recovered a .45 caliber Hi Point handgun with a bullet in the chamber near Clark. A detached loaded magazine was found nearby as well.

“An officer may use deadly force in New Jersey when the officer reasonably believes it is immediately necessary to protect the officer or another person from imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm,” authorities said.

  • J. Brown.

    Did anyone expect anything different?.

  • Miss jamaica

    A dangerous person was taken off the street. Sadly someone passed away during this time . We must think of everyone that was involved that day , this could have been worst.
    This person could have killed several people that day
    I am not on any side but sometimes we must be honest.
    In new Jersey we can have our register/ license weapon inside of our homes once we have are license.
    NJ is not a open carrier state. I am not sure if I had read that anywhere .
    What he was doing was not legal. Focus on the facts and what lead up to the end result.
    All lives matter we must remember that while continue on the journey of life .
    This is my opinion.

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