Leaders urge open dialogue after N.J. man is killed by police

Two well-known New Jersey leaders have urged there continue to be an open dialogue in the wake of a Franklin Township man being shot and killed by police.

The Rev. DeForest "Buster" Soaries, Jr., senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in the Somerset section of Franklin Township, said Saturday's early-morning shooting of a township resident by police didn't happen in a vacuum.

Diahlo Grant, who was shot to death by Franklin Township police officers in New Brunswick. (Courtesy of the Grant family)

"There's a national context of suspicion and frustration between African-American victims and police," Soaries said Monday afternoon.

Diahlo Grant, 27, of the Somerset section of Franklin, was walking in the township Saturday night when he was approached by two uniformed Franklin Township police officers. The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office previously stated he ran when approached and was chased by the officers into nearby New Brunswick, where gunfire was exchanged and he died after having been shot. One of the officers attempted CPR on him while waiting for an ambulance.

Police have released few details in the shooting, including the number of shots fired, because it is under investigation. Grant's family has previously stated he was shot six times, and say he did not own a gun.

Historically, in Franklin, "we've had pretty good relations with police," Soaries said, noting that the shooting over the weekend "is probably more similar to national concerns than incidents in the past.

"There seems to be emerging a disparity between what the community says happened, and what officials are saying."

Family: N.J. man did not need to be shot

A well-known civil rights activist, "I've been here 25 years," Soaries said. "We've had numerous cases where we've had to take the lead in addressing concerns."

People in the community "have confidence in our leadership," he said.

He sees his job as two-part: "To see that the police are given a chance to do their job, and on the other hand, that community concerns, whether rooted in fact or suspicion, are considered.

"I'm satisfied to date that so far this has been handled correctly."

In the past, he said, there's been a reluctance to bring in outside investigators.

Here, officials have reached out proactively to bring in assistance, he said. Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey is heading up the investigation. Soaries said that could help avoid any questions of objectivity.

Also in the past, Soaries said, investigators have been reluctant to talk to the families of victims. "In this case they've already been in touch, and that's a good sign."

He was planning to meet with Grant's family Monday night, and said he's been getting calls of concern from the community.

Asked how that concern may express itself in coming days, Soaries said, "This community has a history of being quite civil in the face of adversity."

The New Brunswick NAACP posted on its Facebook page a series of questions surrounding the circumstances of the shooting, including why police released Grant's police record but have not released any information about the officers.

"The NAACP fully supports police officers when they carry out their duties giving the members of all communities the courtesy and respect everyone deserves," it stated in the Facebook post. "This support comes when the community is given timely, unbiased and complete information.

"We intend to closely monitor the progress of this incident to ensure justice is served."

U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, who was vocal following the shooting of a Trenton teenager by police officers in the state capital in August, said she is looking forward to a "speedy and thorough investigation of this incident by the (Middlesex County) Prosecutor's Office.

"Any loss of life is tragic and my condolences go out to Mr. Grant's family," she said Monday. "I'm also grateful that no others, including the officers involved, were injured. There are outstanding questions here from the family and the broader community, and I hope that they are answered as swiftly as possible."

Radazz Hearns was shot by police in Trenton last summer after allegedly pointing a gun at officers. In January, he pleaded guilty to a weapon possession charge in connection with the incident, it was previously reported by NJ Advance Media.

Hearns, who was 14 at the time of the shooting, was charged with aggravated assault, possession of a handgun and possession of a defaced firearm following the Aug. 7, 2015, confrontation. Authorities alleged he pointed a gun at police as he fled an arrest. 

Hearns' shooting drew widespread attention, public protests and repeated claims on the teen's behalf that he was unarmed when a sheriff's officer and state police trooper shot him. At one point, Watson Coleman called for federal authorities to take over the investigation.

Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find The Hunterdon County Democrat on Facebook.