The Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) today identified the decedent who was fatally injured and the Jersey City police sergeant involved in a fatal shooting on September 5, 2025, in Jersey City, New Jersey. The civilian who died during the encounter has been identified as Steven B. Sanchez, 26, of Jersey City.
According to the preliminary investigation, during the afternoon hours on September 5, Jersey City Police Sgt. Ricardo Reyes along with other uniformed Jersey City officers exited separate patrol vehicles and encountered Mr. Sanchez on the sidewalk of John F. Kennedy Boulevard near the intersection of Clinton Avenue. During the ensuing encounter, Sgt. Reyes exchanged fire with Mr. Sanchez, who was struck and injured. A weapon, later determined to be a compressed air pistol, was recovered. Mr. Sanchez was transported to Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased at approximately 8:45 p.m. Sgt. Reyes sustained a non-life-threatening injury.
The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time.
A 2019 law, N.J.S.A. 52:17B-107(a)(2), requires the Attorney General’s Office to conduct investigations of a person’s death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody. It requires that all such investigations be presented to a grand jury to determine if the evidence supports the return of an indictment against the officer or officers involved.
