A grand jury has voted not to file criminal charges against the two U.S. Marshals who fatally shot a fugitive who charged at them with a machete.
The suspect, Esteban DeJesus, Jr., 56, of Orlando, Florida, was shot by the U.S. Marshals near Jefferson Avenue in Jersey City on July 8, 2023. He later died at an area hospital, officials said.
The Marshals and a state trooper were attempting to apprehend DeJesus, who had warrants out for his arrest for murder and attempted murder out of Florida, the state Attorney General’s Office said.
DeJesus was accused of shooting his neighbors at an apartment complex where he lived in Orlando. Leonidas Duran, 67, was pronounced dead on the scene and her husband was critically injured, authorities said.
When the U.S. Marshals located DeJesus shortly after 11 p.m., he approached them with a machete and ignored their commands to drop it, officials said.
Following a presentation from investigators with the Attorney General’s office, a grand jury voted on May 20 not charge the Marshals.
A 2019 law requires the state Attorney General’s Office to investigate any death that occurs during an encounter with police or while a person is in police custody. The investigation is then presented to a grand jury to determine if any officers involved will be indicted.
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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
