Law enforcement shot the man who barricaded himself inside a Newark home in a 31-hour stand-off after detectives were met with gunfire as they executed a search warrant for drugs and guns in the early morning hours on Thursday, authorities said.
Hassan Grimsley, 42, of Newark was placed into custody and was rushed to University Hospital, where he remains, authorities said. No charges have been announced yet after he was removed from the home at Clinton Place Friday afternoon.
“At approximately 12:55 today, officers engaged the suspect initially utilizing less than lethal force and they, in turn, were met with deadly force from Mr. Grimsley,” acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens told reporters Friday afternoon at the Essex County Veteran’s Courthouse. “Mr. Grimsley was shot at that time.”
Around 1 p.m. on Friday, July 9, officers in helmets could be seen exiting a home on Clinton Place after a nearly 31 hour standoff and laying a person on a stretcher. An ambulance sped off from the scene a short time later.Rebecca Panico | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
The day-and-half ordeal began shortly before 6 a.m. Thursday. Detectives from the Essex County Narcotics Task Force - which includes officers from Newark police - and county sheriff’s officers were executing a search warrant in an investigation that began in May, authorities said.
The incident is still under investigation. At least seven shots were fired at officers throughout the standoff, but it’s still unclear how many shots, and when, law enforcement fired at Grimsley.
“Every time they approached, they were shot at,” said Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura. “He shot at us at least seven or eight times. And each time, it was at the wall just missing some of our officers. One of our officers is ready to retire in 20 days and the bullet came this close to his head. Clearly, he’s traumatized.”
The condition of Grimsley was not immediately known by authorities. Stephens, the county prosecutor, said detectives did knock and announce that they were police when they were executing the search warrant.
Newark Public Safety Director Brian O’Hara said he and other officials were praying for Grimsley’s recovery.
“At least one of the police officers’ ballistic shields was shot by gunfire,” said O’Hara. “Clearly, from the sheriff’s officers - who like so many officers all around the country every day go through a door and don’t know what to expect behind it and don’t know if they’ll come home - were under fire, literally, and exercised tremendous, tremendous restraint.”
Clinton Place in Newark's South Ward was still closed off about 30 hours after shots were fired during a search warrant and a man barricaded himself inside as law enforcement negotiated with him. July 9, 2021.Rebecca Panico | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
James Stewart, the Newark police union president, applauded the response by law enforcement too.
“Great job by the agencies involved in securing the scene, ensuring the community was safe and then taking every opportunity to get the suspect to surrender without force,” Stewart told NJ Advance Media before the press conference. “...Our ERT guys train constantly for these situations and today they showed why they are the best of the best.”
Mayor Ras Baraka said mental health professionals were on scene as law enforcement tried to negotiate with Grimsley.
“Obviously they showed incredible levels of restraint,” said the mayor of law enforcement. “I am completely satisfied that they did everything in their power to make sure that this had an alternative outcome.”
Officials said mental health professionals from Newark Beth Israel were on scene and law enforcement had Grimsely’s family members speak to him. Community activists were also used to help get him out of the home safely.
“He said he was tired and didn’t want to go back to prison,” said Cassandra Dock, a community advocate, who said she spoke to Grimsley on the phone.
Grimsley was formerly incarcerated on narcotics and weapons offenses, the county prosecutor said. Court records show he was sentenced to three years in 2015 after pleading guilty in a drug case.
Stephens pushed back on concerns from neighbors who told NJ Advance Media they were unable to access medicine and clothes as the standoff ensued. He noted that those on scene went to pharmacies to pick up medicine for some residents.
“We try to save someone’s life and perhaps individuals are inconvenienced along the way and that is a criticism,” said Stephens, who has been an acting prosecutor in Essex County for about three years. “If he had been killed in the initial entry it would’ve been why didn’t you try to use less lethal force in order to extricate him from that situation.”
Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, holds a press conference /discussing the resolution of the standoff on Clinton Place in Newark with the wounding and arrest of Hassan Grimsley. Friday, July 9, 2021. Newark , N.J. Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media
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Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com.
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