Dashcam Footage Released on a 2014 Fatal Police Shooting Allegedly Shows Suspect Fired at Officers
In 2014, 27-year-old Antoquan T. Watson was killed in Atlantic City, New Jersey, when seven police officers allegedly opened fire and shot him 45 times. This week, dashcam footage of the shooting was released. The video shows a series of events, ending with Watson allegedly shooting at police officers before they opened fire on him.
The fatal shooting occurred on March 27, 2014. Watson allegedly pulled a gun after he didn’t have the money to pay for a restaurant bill. He drove off in an SUV, after two credit card attempts were rejected for him to pay the $8 he owed.
At about 12:30 pm, officers from the Pleasantville Police Department were dispatched following 9-1-1 calls about the disturbance at the restaurant. Ultimately, police officers from three different departments got involved with chasing the SUV. The officers were from Pleasantville, Atlantic City, and Egg Harbor Township. The chase lasted approximately 11 minutes and covered a 10-mile span. The suspect drove his vehicle through a red light and had a collision with another vehicle. The SUV spun out. Then Watson allegedly got out of the SUV with a gun in his hand and opened fire on the officers. That’s when seven officers fired a total of 69 times, with 45 shots hitting the suspect, who was pronounced dead at the scene. It was revealed by his autopsy that there was PCP in his system when the alleged fatal police shooting occurred.
According to officials, there is surveillance video from the restaurant that confirms witness reports of Watson pointing a gun toward the ceiling inside the restaurant.
No charges were filed against any of the police officers with regard to the fatal shooting of Watson. The physical evidence and the scene were reviewed by a use-of-force expert, who determined that the officers took lawful action, under the circumstances.
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