A state grand jury has decided not to file criminal charges against two Manchester Township police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a man during a December 2023 encounter, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office announced on Friday.
Shannon Rose, 39, died on Dec. 5, 2023, after Manchester police officers Nicholas Greenwood and Michael Anderson engaged in a tense standoff with him for over 20 minutes. Authorities said Rose, who was holding a semiautomatic rifle, ignored repeated pleas from officers to put down the weapon.
The Office of Public Integrity and Accountability conducted an extensive investigation into Rose’s death, following the guidelines of the Attorney General’s Independent Prosecutor Directive of 2019. The findings were presented to a state grand jury, which ultimately voted “no bill,” meaning no criminal charges will be filed against the officers.
According to authorities, Rose’s wife called 911 at 8:28 p.m. on the evening of the incident, reporting that her husband was in distress and threatening to harm himself. She told dispatchers he had taken a semiautomatic rifle from their gun safe and was intoxicated.
“He’s talking about hurting himself,” she told the 911 dispatcher. “He’s talking about provoking them so they will shoot him. Please don’t shoot him.”
Rose left his home in a white van, which later crashed nearby. Officers heard a gunshot and located Rose in a wooded area on Elizabeth Avenue around 9:10 p.m. For over 22 minutes, they urged him to drop his weapon. Rose initially appeared to comply, removing the ammunition clip from the rifle. However, when he lifted the barrel of the weapon again, Officers Greenwood and Anderson opened fire.
The Attorney General’s Office released bodycam footage and 911 recordings as part of the investigation. Evidence presented to the grand jury included witness statements, ballistics testing, and an autopsy report. Investigators confirmed that one shell casing recovered at the scene had been discharged from Rose’s rifle.
The grand jury reviewed the potential criminal charges, including criminal homicide, and considered legal justifications such as self-defense. Ultimately, the panel concluded that the officers’ actions did not warrant criminal prosecution.
The Attorney General’s Office noted that Rose’s wife and 12-year-old daughter were present during his arrest, adding to the tragic circumstances. Rose’s daughter reportedly remains deeply affected by the incident.
A 2019 state law mandates independent investigations of deaths involving law enforcement officers. Following the grand jury’s decision, the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability will determine whether the case should be referred for administrative review to assess compliance with police protocols.