The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) has released 911 call recordings and police body-worn camera footage from a fatal police-involved shooting that occurred on August 8, 2025, in New Brunswick. The civilian who died was identified as Deborah Terrell, age 68, of New Brunswick. The release of the materials follows policies set by the Attorney General’s Office in 2019 to ensure transparency in investigations involving fatal encounters with law enforcement. Representatives of Terrell’s family were given an opportunity to review the recordings before they were made public.
According to the ongoing investigation, New Brunswick Police Department officers first responded at approximately 4 a.m. to a report that a female resident—later identified as Terrell—was disturbing other residents at an apartment building on Neilson Street. Officers attempted but failed to communicate with her, as she would not open her door or speak with them.
A second call came at 7:32 a.m., reporting that Terrell was repeatedly exiting and re-entering her apartment while threatening other tenants with a knife. Emergency medical services were also notified and asked to stand by outside for a possible evaluation.
Officers arrived at about 7:38 a.m., spoke with civilians who said they saw Terrell holding a large knife, then proceeded to her apartment. At around 7:41 a.m., officers knocked on her door; when she opened it holding a knife, they instructed her to drop it. She instead closed and locked the door and moved the knife under the gap between the door and floor multiple times while officers tried to communicate further.
During these exchanges through the closed door, Terrell indicated there was another man inside with her; officers requested he come out but she refused further communication. After more attempts by officers to make contact—including repeated knocking—Terrell reopened the door briefly, pointed the knife at officers, then shut it again and continued moving the knife beneath the door.
Police assigned “lethal” and “less lethal” duties among themselves outside her apartment. Shortly after this arrangement, Terrell emerged into the hallway holding the knife and said “C’mon.” An officer used pepper spray while another deployed a taser; Terrell initially retreated but then advanced toward officers still armed with the knife. An officer fired two shots from his service weapon, striking Terrell. Officers rendered medical aid before she was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital where she was pronounced dead. A 12-inch knife was recovered from the scene.
Authorities are withholding identification of involved police officers due to reported threats against them.
“N.J.S.A. 52:17B-107(a)(2) requires the Attorney General’s Office to conduct investigations of a person’s death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody,” according to information provided by officials. “It requires that all such investigations be presented to a grand jury to determine if evidence supports return of an indictment against officer or officers involved.”
The investigation remains ongoing; no additional information is being released at this time.
Details about how fatal police encounters are investigated under New Jersey’s Independent Prosecutor Directive can be found on the Attorney General’s website.
