By Alicia Cruz
The New Jersey Newsroom
There will be no separate investigation into the July 16 shooting death of prominent Atlanta banking official, DeFarra "Dean" Gaymon, State Attorney General Paula Dow's office announced Wednesday.
After meeting with her top officials Wednesday afternoon, Dow concluded there was “no indication of a conflict with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office handling this case fairly and impartially,” spokesman, Paul Loriquet said.
Afterward, Dow called the Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert Laurino to discuss the decision, The Star-Ledger reported. Laurino’s office will present its investigation to a grand jury, which may take several weeks.
Last week, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey made a formal request asking that Dow open an inquiry into the Gaymon shooting that they feel "demands" the "legitimacy that only an external review can provide,” considering the seriousness of the incident and many unanswered questions.
Gaymon's family members dispel the Detective's version of the alleged confrontation that led to Gaymon's death inside Newark’s Branch Brook Park. The detective, Edward Esposito, was investigating complaints about people engaging in sexual acts in the park when he says he was approached and proposition by Gaymon, who was unarmed. When Esposito showed his badge to Gaymon, he allegedly panicked and tried to flee, then lunged at the undercover detective before trying to disarm him, The Star-Ledger reported.
That's when Esposito fired a single shot, hitting Gaymon in the stomach. He died hours later. The Gaymon family has called on the FBI to investigate the shooting.
ACLU-NJ executive director Deborah Jacobs called Dow's decision not to investigate "a huge missed opportunity.
"Every law enforcement official knows it’s essential to have an external review when the public fears a cover up," she said. "Whether the corruption is a perception or a reality, an external review is the way to address it."
Gaymon, who was chief executive officer of a Credit Union in Atlanta, was in New Jersey to attend his high school reunion at Montclair High School.
After meeting with her top officials Wednesday afternoon, Dow concluded there was “no indication of a conflict with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office handling this case fairly and impartially,” spokesman, Paul Loriquet said.
Afterward, Dow called the Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert Laurino to discuss the decision, The Star-Ledger reported. Laurino’s office will present its investigation to a grand jury, which may take several weeks.
Last week, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey made a formal request asking that Dow open an inquiry into the Gaymon shooting that they feel "demands" the "legitimacy that only an external review can provide,” considering the seriousness of the incident and many unanswered questions.
Gaymon's family members dispel the Detective's version of the alleged confrontation that led to Gaymon's death inside Newark’s Branch Brook Park. The detective, Edward Esposito, was investigating complaints about people engaging in sexual acts in the park when he says he was approached and proposition by Gaymon, who was unarmed. When Esposito showed his badge to Gaymon, he allegedly panicked and tried to flee, then lunged at the undercover detective before trying to disarm him, The Star-Ledger reported.
That's when Esposito fired a single shot, hitting Gaymon in the stomach. He died hours later. The Gaymon family has called on the FBI to investigate the shooting.
ACLU-NJ executive director Deborah Jacobs called Dow's decision not to investigate "a huge missed opportunity.
"Every law enforcement official knows it’s essential to have an external review when the public fears a cover up," she said. "Whether the corruption is a perception or a reality, an external review is the way to address it."
Gaymon, who was chief executive officer of a Credit Union in Atlanta, was in New Jersey to attend his high school reunion at Montclair High School.
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