According to investigators, one Cherry Hill officer fired his weapon as the occupant of a home he was investigating killed himself. This is a developing story.
By Matt Skoufalos | October 11, 2022 (UPDATED October 18, 2022)
A Cherry Hill man is dead, allegedly by his own hand, after Cherry Hill Police entered his home to check on him, according to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (OAG).
The incident occurred near the 3000 block of Chapel Avenue West in Cherry Hill around 2 p.m. October 11.
According to a statement provided by the OAG on October 18, police were dispatched for a wellness check on someone at that residence.
“Following entry into the residence, officers encountered an individual who reached for a firearm, and then shot himself,” the OAG said in a written statement.
That man was identified as 63-year-old Joseph Bestic, Jr. of Cherry Hill, who was declared dead at the scene.
According to the OAG, Cherry Hill Police Officer Jared Fox, who was sworn in as a probationary officer in February, also fired his service weapon during the encounter. No information was released about whether Fox’s shot struck Bestick, Jr., or whether the decedent pointed his weapon at police.
No other details about the case have been released. The investigation is ongoing.
Whenever a civilian death occurs in an encounter with law enforcement, the OAG is statutorily required to investigate.
This mandatory independent prosecutor directive follows a 10-step investigation process designed to be free of conflicts of interest. More on that here.
This is a developing story. Stick with NJ Pen for updates.
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