Outside Probe Ordered In Shooting of Armed Man By Pleasantville, NJ Cops
By David Madden
PLEASANTVILLE, N.J. (CBS) -- Prosecutors in Atlantic County, NJ are bringing in an independent expert to help in their probe of the shooting death of a man at the hands of Pleasantville police a week and a half ago.
An investigation by the county prosecutor of any police-involved shooting is routine, but calling in an outside expert is not.
The yet-to-be-selected expert in ballistics, police procedures, and shooting-scene reconstruction will assist in determining if deadly force was justified in taking down 19-year-old Alexis Perez.
More than a few residents have questioned the tactics used.
Ten officers responded to Perez's 911 call that he was armed and about to hurt someone. According to prosecutors, Perez had a knife and could not be talked or chemical-sprayed into surrendering.
Police say when he lunged at them with the knife, four cops opened fire. Seven of the ten total shots fired hit Perez, killing him (see related story).
