NEWARK – The Attorney General’s Office is conducting an investigation of a fatal officer-involved shooting involving the Newark Police Department that occurred just after midnight on Jan. 1 in the area of South 11th Street and Woodland Avenue in Newark.
One male civilian, identified as Carl Dorsey III, 39, of South Orange, sustained fatal injuries after being shot by Detective Rod Simpkins of the Newark Police Department.
According to the preliminary investigation, the shooting occurred at approximately 12:03 a.m. near Woodland Avenue and South 11th Street in Newark. Officers on patrol responded to the area. During the incident, Simpkins fired his 9mm service weapon, striking Mr. Dorsey. Officers provided medical aid to Mr. Dorsey and he was transported by emergency medical personnel to University Hospital in Newark, where he was pronounced deceased at 1:37 a.m.
The investigation is being conducted pursuant to a law enacted in January 2019, P.L.2019, c.1, which requires that the Attorney General’s Office 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.
The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time.
