Attorney Edward Hesketh says the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office report on the death of Diahlo Grant leaves more questions than answers.
FRANKLIN -- The new attorney representing the family of Diahlo Grant, who was shot and killed in April by police, said in a statement that a Grand Jury should review evidence gathered during the investigation.
On Monday, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office released an official report on the shooting. It determined that Grant, who was wanted on a warrant for a previous shooting in the township and was recognized by the officers, fired at the officers first and his death from return fire was justified.
Grant was shot in New Brunswick following a brief foot chase from the township, located in Somerset County, into the city, located in Middlesex County.
On Monday, the Rev. DeForest "Buster" Soaries called for the U.S. Department of Justice to launch an investigation into the case. The Grant family's attorney, Edward Hesketh, called for a Grand Jury probe on Tuesday. Hesketh also joined Soaries in calling for the U.S. Department of Justice to initiate an independent investigation into the case.
Grant, 27, was killed on April 9 when he encountered two uniformed Franklin Township police officers at Somerset and Home streets and, after a brief chase, exchanged gunfire at 1:30 a.m., according to the prosecutor's report. Grant fired one shot at the officers and was killed when one of the officers fired six shots at him, striking him multiple times, it was stated in the report.
A black revolver with a brown grip was recovered next to Grant's body and the weapon was subsequently identified as the same one involved in the shooting of a man on Feb. 15, according to the report.
"With that release, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office fully complied with the New Jersey Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive No. 2006-5, issued December 3, 2006 and revised on July 28, 2017," Hesketh, based in Branchburg, said in his statement. "This matter, as per the provisions of the directive, was not required to be presented to a Grand Jury.
Prosecutor clears officer in fatal shooting
"All across our country similar cases involving law enforcement and young African- American males have occurred and have spurred much debate in the community. Most, if not all, were presented to a Grand Jury for review. While the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office fully complied with the Attorney General's Directive, the process itself leaves the Grant family, the community and the public in general in the dark as to the facts of the case.
"While the law enforcement statement of facts recites a justifiable use of police force, nevertheless the lack of knowing the details of what actually occurred is troubling. As an attorney, I can fully understand the scope of the directive but as the family of Diahlo Grant and other members of the community learn of the outcome of the investigation, it is conceivable that more questions are raised than are answered."
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.