LAURENCE HARBOR, NJ — Late Tuesday afternoon, New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin released body camera footage of the fatal shooting of a 26-year-old man by an Old Bridge police officer.

This is the fatal shooting that happened April 24 in the Laurence Harbor section of Old Bridge, where Luke Mendez, 26, was fatally shot.

The officer who shot him with his service weapon has been identified as Christopher Hammel of the Old Bridge Police Department.

To date, no criminal charges have been filed against Hammel, and AG Platkin is still investigating.

Previously, Mendez's grieving father, Luke Mendez, 59, told Patch he wants criminal charges filed against the police officer. He said that has not changed with today's video release.

"I don't know what to say … I lost my son to a police shooting," said Mendez Tuesday. "There should've been other options, as per the state Attorney General's guidelines. Not three bullets to end Luke's life."

"I'm devastated. I want to see justice and accountability for my son."

That day, Officer Hammel responded to a 911 call at approximately 3:09 p.m. from the two-story white home on Woodland Avenue in Laurence Harbor. The young man lived in that home with his mother, aunts and grandmother.

Police were called by either his mother or aunts, because cameras had been set up inside the home and they were being stolen or taken down, said Mendez's father, who does not live in the home and was not there the day his son was killed.

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Published Apr 21,2024

Category Video  /  True Crime & Mystery