State names Paterson, NJ cops who shot anti-violence activist

🔴 Two cops involved in a fatal Paterson police shooting have been identified

🔴 The shooting killed violence intervention activist Najee Seabrooks

🔴 Protestors claim the shooting was avoidable

PATERSON — State authorities have released the names of the cops who shot violence intervention activist Najee Seabrooks after a standoff lasting nearly five hours last week.

Seabrooks, 31, was shot and killed in his apartment by Paterson cops on Friday, according to the Attorney General's Office.

Earlier that morning, officers had responded to the building on Mill Street around 7:45 a.m. for a call of an individual in distress. Seabrooks had barricaded himself in the apartment's bathroom.

Authorities say that an hour after arriving at the scene, three cops used "less lethal force" in an attempt to subdue Seabrooks. But the standoff continued until two cops from the police department's Emergency Response Team entered around 12:30 p.m.

At 12:35 p.m., Officers Anzore Tsay and Jose Hernandez both fired their weapons and hit Seabrooks, according to the OAG. He was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead at 12:51 p.m.

Authorities did not disclose the circumstances of the shooting and said the investigation is ongoing.

"High-ranking sources" reportedly told NorthJersey.com that Seabrooks was wielding two knives and moved toward the officers before the shooting.

Earlier in the day, Seabrooks had broken water pipes and started a small fire in the room, according to the report. After the city fire department doused the blaze, the water from the pipes and hoses mixed with spilled alcohol. The combination prevented officers from safely deploying stun guns.

Liza Chowdhury speaks 3/7/23. (NorthJersey.com)

But members of the Paterson Healing Collective claim that they could have prevented the shooting if police had allowed them to speak with Seabrooks. The violence intervention group that helps at-risk youth, to which Seabrooks belonged, held a vigil outside their offices on Tuesday night, NorthJersey.com reported.

“The police refused to let us help our brother in arms,” PHC member Liza Chowdhury said. "We demand justice."

More than 250 protestors later gathered around police headquarters and knocked down a metal barricade. Cops readied their riot gear, but tensions subsided without any physical confrontations.

The next day, Mayor Andre Sayegh on social media called for an immediate release of police body-worn camera footage of the shooting.

"We want the truth and that's why I am asking for the immediate release of the body camera footage of this tragic incident," Sayegh said Wednesday.

Up or down? Average property tax changes in NJ in 2022

Below are the average property tax bills for every municipality in New Jersey last year.

The towns are listed from the biggest cut in the average bill to the highest increase. On the county maps, the deeper red color means a higher increase above 2% whereas the darker green signifies a smaller increase or a reduction.

Each listing also shows how the average tax bill is split among the county, school and municipal governments.

Rick Rickman is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at richard.rickman@townsquaremedia.com

Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.

Weird things NJ taxes - and some they don't

In general, New Jersey assesses a 6.625% Sales Tax on sales of most tangible personal property, specified digital products, and certain services unless specifically exempt under New Jersey law.

However, the way the sales tax is applied in New Jersey sometimes just doesn't make sense.

New Jersey puts out an itemized list for retailers that spells out what is, and what is not, taxed.

Perhaps because this is New Jersey, there are some bizarre and seemingly contradictory listings.