Grand Jury Clears Officer in Terrell Shooting | Newark News

A New Jersey grand jury has declined to charge Officer Josue Plaza in the August 2025 shooting death of Deborah Terrell, despite a volatile confrontation that began with neighbors reporting her disturbances and escalated when she allegedly threatened others with a knife. Officers attempted to de-escalate, using pepper spray and a Taser, but Terrell continued advancing with the weapon — prompting Plaza to fire. After reviewing extensive evidence including 911 calls, body camera footage, witness accounts, and recovered forensic items like a 12-inch knife, the grand jury determined insufficient grounds for criminal charges, closing the legal chapter on this tragic incident. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/1674204878a37f1b