Feds to decide whether to review fatal shooting of Black Man by New Brunswick police

From [HERE] The U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark today said it will review circumstances surrounding the fatal police shooting of a New Brunswick man in September and determine if it will begin a full investigation.

"We will evaluate the facts to determine whether a federal investigation is warranted," said Rebekah Carmichael, spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman.

On Thursday Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan announced that a grand jury decided not to indict New Brunswick police officers Brad Berdel and Daniel Mazan in the September shooting of Barry Deloatch, 46, in an alley on Throop Avenue in New Brunswick.

After the release of the grand jury decision, questions were raised about the investigation of the shooting, noting a judge had refused to impanel a special grand jury, and that the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office is located in the same building as New Brunswick police headquarters.

Salaam Ismial, director of the National United Youth Council in Elizabeth and one of the leaders of protests that followed the Deloatch shooting, sent a letter to the U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman requesting a federal investigation.

"Your involvement is in dire need," Ismial said in the letter.

The shooting occurred shortly after midnight on Sept. 22, 2011, when Berdel and Mazan approached three men, including Deloatch, who had just emerged from an alley. When the men were ordered to show their hands, Deloatch refused, holding one hand behind his back, Kaplan said. When Mazan drew his weapon and repeated the order, Deloatch ran, prompting the officers to give chase, authorities have said.

When Mazan tackled Deloatch, the suspect began beating the officer with a 2-foot stick, police have said. To protect his partner, Berdel fired, killing Deloatch, authorities have said. It was later determined Deloatch did not have gun or knife.

Lawyers for Deloatch's two adult sons said they will review the prosecutor's investigation.