STATEMENT BY ATTORNEY WILLIAM O. WAGSTAFF III UPON FILING EXCESSIVE FORCE AND WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT IN THE KILLING OF UNARMED BLACK MOTORIST BY NEW JERSEY STATE TROOPER

“Today, we filed a lawsuit on behalf of Maurice Gordon, Sr. and Racquel Barrett, the parents of Maurice Gordon, Jr., against The State of New Jersey, State Trooper Sgt. Randall Wetzel, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, New Jersey State Police Colonel Patrick Callahan, and other unnamed individuals. The family is alleging that Junior’s constitutional and other rights were violated and that racism in policing led to excessive force and Junior’s wrongful death and is demanding a trial by jury.

Furthermore, with the anniversary of his death approaching, the New Jersey Attorney General’s office has still failed to send the case of Junior’s killing to the Grand Jury as required by NJ State law, nor has the Attorney General released crucial evidence to the family.

It is the hope that through discovery as a result of this lawsuit, the family will finally get answers to the questions about Junior’s final moments when Sergeant Wetzel shot him six times, and the actions of responders on the scene.”