Family seeks answers after police fatally shoot New Jersey woman in mental health crisis

The family of Deborah Terrell, a 68-year-old woman fatally shot by New Brunswick police, is demanding accountability and transparency following the deadly encounter.

Details: Deborah Terrell shot and killed by New Brunswick police

On August 8, 2025, Terrell was fatally shot by police after officers responded to reports of a woman pacing with a knife in a New Brunswick apartment hallway. When authorities arrived, Terrell, who had a documented history of schizophrenia, had already locked herself inside her unit.

Cellphone footage released by her relatives shows at least four officers attempting to communicate through the closed door. Moments later, Terrell reportedly emerged holding a knife. Officers deployed pepper spray and a Taser in an effort to subdue her.

The video then captures one officer falling. A single gunshot follows. Terrell was struck and died at the scene.

Her nephew, Tormel Pittman, told CBS News the family is devastated and frustrated. “They didn’t give her a chance to respond,” he said. “We just want to know what happened.”

Terrell was a mother and great-grandmother known for her generosity. “She always welcomed people into her home,” Pittman recalled. “She loved babysitting her great-nieces and nephews.”

New Brunswick police also released body camera video of the incident.

New Jersey mental health services during police interactions

To improve police response to mental health emergencies, New Jersey launched the ARRIVE Together program in 2021.

Now active in over 200 towns, the initiative pairs crisis-trained officers with mental health screeners to provide on-scene support during behavioral health calls.

Designed to reduce the use of force and promote safer outcomes, ARRIVE Together helps individuals experiencing mental illness or substance use crises receive compassionate, immediate care.

The program operates in Middlesex County, including New Brunswick. ARRIVE Together continues to expand statewide, reshaping how law enforcement engages with vulnerable communities.

According to NJ.com, the Attorney General’s office and city officials would not say whether or not a request for mental health professionals was put in during the incident.

Investigation into the fatal shooting of Deborah Terrell

The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office has launched an investigation, but officials say findings may take weeks or months to release.

Family members vow to keep pressing for answers and reforms. They want changes in how law enforcement handles mental health emergencies.

“We won’t stop,” Pittman said. “She deserved compassion, not a bullet.”