Prosecutors in New Jersey shared body camera footage that shows a non-fatal officer-involved shooting in May that happened in the parking lot of a dollar store. Officers from the Pleasantville Police Department were called to the Dollar General on South New Road around 9:30 a.m. on May 24th for reports of a person who fired a gun. Authorities say 37-year-old Jalial Whitted was found inside the Dollar General with a handgun "protruding from his right pocket." As more officers arrived at the store, investigators say Whitted walked towards police and refused to listen to their orders to drop to the ground Police say Whitted told officers "shoot me," and police tried to deescalate the situation by backing away and letting Whitted exit the store onto the front sidewalk. According to investigators, Whitted placed his hand on the gun in his right pocket and five officers opened fire, wounding him. "The officers indicated that they fired to protect the lives of the nearby public, their own lives, and the lives of their fellow officers," a release from Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said. Whitted was charged in June with Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Possession of a Weapon by Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose. The D.A.'s office said an investigation into the officer-involved shooting remains active and ongoing. ————————————————————————————————————————————————— Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer has announced the release of video footage from multiple body worn cameras, as well as 911 audio recordings, in connection with a police officer involved, non-fatal shooting of Jalial Whitted, 37, of Pleasantville, that occurred in Pleasantville, Atlantic County, on May 24, 2022. The Office of the Attorney General requested that the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office undertake the independent investigation of the shooting. Preliminary investigation has revealed that on May 24, 2022, Pleasantville Police received a 911 call at approximately 9:35 a.m. indicating that an individual had discharged a gun at the Dollar General store located on South New Road in Pleasantville. At approximately 9:37 a.m., a Pleasantville Police Officer responded to the Dollar General and discovered Mr. Whitted inside the store – with a handgun protruding from his right pocket. As additional officers arrived, Mr. Whitted walked toward the officers and refused to follow directions to stop and drop to the ground, at which time Mr. Whitted said to the officers “shoot me.” The officers attempted to de-escalate the situation by backing away and allowing Mr. Whitted to exit the store and stand on the front sidewalk. Mr. Whitted then reached for and placed his hand on the handgun in his right pocket, at which time five police officers discharged their duty firearms at him. The officers indicated that they fired to protect the lives of the nearby public, their own lives, and the lives of their fellow officers. The video footage from the body worn cameras is being released pursuant to the policies established by the Office of the Attorney General designed to promote fair, impartial, and transparent investigations of police officer involved shootings. Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office met with Mr. Whitted’s mother and showed her the recordings prior to the issuance of this press release.