Jamaicans in the US demand answers in death of Maurice Gordon

Gordon, a Jamaican-born US citizen, was shot fatally by Sgt. Randall Wetzel a white New Jersey state police trooper on the Garden State Parkway on May 23.

According to a press release from the New Jersey’s attorney general office, Gordon, 28, was shot six times during an alleged confrontation with the police officer following traffic violation.

The policeman said Gordon tried to take is gun during a scuffle between the two. However, attorney-at-law William O. Wagstaff, representing the deceased family, said there’s no truth to the officer’s claim based on video evidence seen of the incident captured on camera.

Gordon’s death was brought to light following the death of another black man George Floyd, who died while a white cop pressed his knee into his neck for over eight minutes in Minneapolis on May 25. Their deaths have raised the ugly reality of racism in America, as hundreds of thousands protested around the world reacting to Floyd’s death which was caught on camera.

An online petition seeking justice for Gordon has garnered more than 10,000 signatures.

But with the Jamaica Diaspora Northeast, USA, and the Jamaica Organization of New Jersey (JON-J) also adding their voice to the loud echoes for justice into Gordon’s death, momentum is building.

In a joint statement the groups said they “are tormented and heartbroken by the killing of 28-year old Maurice Gordon on the Garden State Parkway by a New Jersey state police trooper on May 23, 2020, at 6:30 am

“As a community, we stand with the family during this tragic time. “It is disturbing that once again; another black man was killed during an interaction with law enforcement. We need to know the facts and demand accurate answers from all the individuals and agencies involved. We have made attempts and will continue to do so to get a precise account as to what happened on that Saturday morning when his life was taken.

“We will keep the community informed of the facts and our next steps in a timely manner. We have started discussions with numerous community groups and leaders regarding our collective actions and will share the same as soon as the facts become available.

“Again, we express sincere condolences to Maurice Gordon's family during this heart wrenching time, and want them to know that they are not alone.

“We demand answers from the New Jersey District Attorney General's Office and the New Jersey state police to ensure that the circumstances surrounding Maurice Gordon's death are investigated thoroughly and that justice is ultimately done.”

Sgt. Wetzel has been placed on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation.