The Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability released on Apr. 1 police body-worn camera and surveillance footage related to a fatal police-involved shooting that occurred on September 5, 2025, in Jersey City. The individual who died was identified as Steven B. Sanchez, age 26, of Jersey City.
The release of the recordings follows policies established by the Attorney General’s Office in 2019 to promote fair and transparent investigations into police use of deadly force. Representatives from Sanchez’s family were given an opportunity to review the footage before it was made public.
According to the investigation, two uniformed Jersey City officers were traveling southbound on John F. Kennedy Boulevard when Sergeant Ricardo Reyes, driving northbound in another marked vehicle, made a U-turn after suspecting someone had shot at his car. A civilian then indicated Sanchez as the person responsible for firing at Reyes’ vehicle. Shortly after, other officers also made a U-turn with similar suspicions about shots fired at their vehicle.
At approximately 1:23 p.m., officers exited their vehicle near Clinton Avenue and saw Sanchez holding what appeared to be a handgun. They issued commands for him to drop it; Sanchez pointed the weapon toward them. Sergeant Reyes exited his car and exchanged gunfire with Sanchez, who was struck but managed to fire back before being taken into custody following a struggle. Officers provided medical aid until emergency services arrived; Sanchez was later pronounced dead at Jersey City Medical Center around 8:45 p.m., while Sergeant Reyes sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
A compressed air pistol and several projectiles believed to have been fired from that weapon were recovered at the scene. No other officers or civilians were injured during this incident.
State law requires that all deaths occurring during encounters with law enforcement be investigated by the Attorney General’s Office and presented to a grand jury for possible indictment decisions regarding involved officers.
The New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin aims to protect residents’ lives and property while upholding legal standards statewide according to the official website. The office extends its authority across all counties and municipalities according to its website and influences public safety through enforcement oversight as reported by its website. It holds statewide authority over prosecution and regulation of public safety matters according to its statutory mandate, offering services such as legal representation, crime lab support, victim advocacy, consumer protection initiatives as outlined online, functioning as an agency focused on justice throughout New Jersey according to its website.
Further information about procedures for investigating fatal police encounters is available on the Attorney General’s website.
