Jason Urban
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces that on May 10, 2023, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Shooting Response Team was activated due to an officer involved shooting that occurred in the area of Lackawanna Place and Passaic Avenue in the City of Passaic.
Pursuant to Attorney General Directive 2019-4, the Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability was notified and the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office was appointed as the Independent Investigator.
On May 10, 2023, shortly before 6:30 p.m., the Passaic Police Department received a 911 call about a man with a gun. Passaic Officers responded to the location. Upon arrival to the area, Passaic Police Officers encountered Jason Urban, 42, of Passaic, New Jersey. Urban had a firearm in his hand and he fired several rounds from the handgun into the air. Responding officers gave him verbal commands to drop the firearm, which he disregarded. After firing the rounds in the air, Urban pointed the firearm in the direction of a Passaic Police Officer. At that point, a second Passaic Officer discharged his department issued firearm eight times, striking Urban. Urban was taken into custody and transported to Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center for treatment. The firearm he held and fired was recovered by police. It was a Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum that had been reported stolen out of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.
Urban has been charged by Warrant-Complaint with one count of second degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, one count of second degree Possession of a Firearm for an Unlawful Purpose, one count of third degree Receiving Stolen Property, one count of fourth degree Aggravated Assault, and one count of Certain Persons not to Possess Firearms. The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office has filed a motion for Urban to be detained pretrial. The defendant’s first appearance and a hearing on the pretrial detention motion has been scheduled before Judge Irme Karaszegi on May 19, 2023.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The investigation in this matter, including the use of deadly force by police, remains active and ongoing. The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org.