As nation struggles with fallout from in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, advocates say they find trooper-involved shooting on Garden State Parkway ‘troubling’
MICHAEL HILL, NJTV NEWS | JUNE 10, 2020
Social justice advocates are calling for a transparent investigation of a New Jersey state trooper shooting and killing of 28-year-old Maurice Gordon of New York two days before the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Newly-released tape shows the encounter on the southbound side of the Garden State Parkway near exit 50 in Bass River where Gordon steered his apparently disabled Honda to the left shoulder after passing a trooper at 110 miles an hour. The dash camera shows Sgt. Randall Wetzel encouraging Gordon to get in his trooper vehicle. Gordon sits in the back seat.
The tape clearly shows the sergeant calling for a tow truck. He asks Gordon where does he want the car towed and whether Gordon can pay for it. The trooper also offers Gordon a face mask. The trooper is standing behind his own car when Gordon decides he wants to get out.
The two scuffle for a minute and a half. Then the trooper shoots Gordon six times.
Gordon falls to the ground. The trooper handcuffs him.
This is what he says when backup arrives: “He was in my car. I gave him a mask. He tried getting out of my car. We got in a fight on the side of the road. He tried running into my car. I got him out, sprayed him. We got in a fight again; he ran away from me, tried to hop into my car. I grabbed my gun. We were fighting with my gun and I shot him. He’s already cuffed.”
Family hires attorney
What led to the fatal shots being fired and Gordon’s death are now being investigated. Gordon’s family has hired attorney William Wagstaff.
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