The Attorney General’s Office is investigating after a Vineland police officer fatally shot a man Saturday.
Joshua Gonzalez, 20, of Millville, died in the incident.
Three officers sustained minor injuries in the incident, according to the report. They were treated and released.
According to the preliminary investigation, members of the Vineland Police were dispatched to the area of West Park Drive to respond to a 911 call of an individual operating a construction backhoe in an erratic manner.
Several Vineland police officers encountered Gonzalez driving the construction backhoe at about 5 a.m., according to the report.
As officers tried to stop him for about a half-hour, he caused extensive damage to several residences and vehicles, including two police cars, an ambulance and an occupied civilian vehicle, the preliminary investigation found.
While the officers were attempting to stop Gonzalez, Vineland Police Sgt. Louis Platania fired his weapon, killing Gonzalez.
Medical aid was rendered by officers and emergency medical personnel, but Gonzalez was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:48 a.m.
This investigation is being conducted pursuant to Attorney General Directive 2019-4, which implements the statutory requirement that the Attorney General’s Office conduct the investigation of any 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, and which establishes clear standards and procedures for conducting such investigations.
(NOTE: This story originally ran Dec. 18. It has been updated to include names and additional details.)
