By: Richard L. Smith
The Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) has released the identity of the civilian fatally injured and the Jersey City police sergeant involved in a deadly shooting on September 5, 2025.
Officials confirmed that Steven B. Sanchez, 26, of Jersey City, died following the encounter with police.
The officer has been identified as Sgt. Ricardo Reyes of the Jersey City Police Department.
According to the preliminary investigation, the incident happened during the afternoon hours when Sgt. Reyes and other uniformed officers exited their patrol vehicles and approached Sanchez on the sidewalk along John F. Kennedy Boulevard near Clinton Avenue.
During the confrontation, Sanchez and Sgt. Reyes exchanged gunfire.
Sanchez was struck and seriously injured. Investigators later recovered a compressed air pistol at the scene, which was in Sanchez’s possession.
Sanchez was transported to Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased at approximately 8:45 p.m. Sgt. Reyes sustained a non-life-threatening injury during the incident.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, and no further details are being released at this time, authorities said.