ATTORNEY GENERAL’S SHOOTING RESPONSE TASK FORCE

INVESTIGATES DEATH OF MAN IN PATERSON

TRENTON –The Attorney General’s Shooting Response Task Force is conducting an investigation of the death of Steven A. Sherlock, 25, of Fair Lawn, N.J., who died early Sunday morning, March 17, 2019, after he was involved in a fight at a bar and was transported to a hospital by Paterson police officers for evaluation.

According to the preliminary investigation, Paterson police officers were dispatched to Duffy’s Bar and Tavern on River Street in Paterson at approximately 2:44 a.m. on a report of a fight outside the bar.  There was a large crowd outside the bar when officers arrived.  Police were informed that Sherlock was involved in a physical altercation with a man and his girlfriend.  Sherlock and the couple were still at the scene when police arrived.  All three individuals were transported to the hospital for evaluation.  Police transported Sherlock to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, where he was admitted.  Police relinquished custody of Sherlock for treatment.  Sherlock was pronounced dead at the hospital at about 4 a.m. on Sunday.

The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time.

This investigation is being conducted pursuant to the recently enacted law, Senate Bill 1036, which requires that the Attorney General’s Office 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.