Edison, N.J (NJ AG) – The Attorney General’s Office today released video footage from three body-worn cameras related to a fatal police-involved shooting that occurred on April 12, 2022, in Edison, N.J. The decedent has been identified as Merrill Rambarose, 49, of Edison. The officers who fired their service weapons at Mr. Rambarose have been identified as Officer Daniel Bradley and Officer Joseph Elqumos of the Edison Police Department.
The fatal shooting remains under investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA). The recordings are being released pursuant to policies established by the Attorney General’s Office in 2019 that are designed to promote the fair, impartial, and transparent investigation of fatal police encounters. Investigators met today with Mr. Rambarose’s family to review the recordings.
According to the preliminary investigation, uniformed officers of the Edison Police Department responded to a 911 call made shortly after 3:45 p.m. reporting a male threatening an individual with an axe on Judson Street in Edison, N.J. When officers arrived, they attempted to speak to Mr. Rambarose on his balcony. Mr. Rambarose then went inside his apartment and emerged moments later armed with a short-handled axe. Officers ordered him to back up and drop the weapon. He did not comply with the officers’ commands and instead charged towards the officers with the axe in his hand. At this time, Officers Elquomos and Bradley both fired their weapons, fatally wounding Mr. Rambarose. An axe was recovered near Mr. Rambarose. Officers and emergency medical personnel rendered first aid to Mr. Rambarose, who was pronounced deceased on scene via telemetry at 4:41 p.m.
