By: Richard L. Smith
The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) has made public body-worn camera footage and a 911 recording connected to the deadly police-involved shooting of a Pennsauken man last fall in Haddon Township.
According to information released by OPIA, the incident occurred on November 3, 2024, around 1:07 a.m., when Haddon Township Police responded to a 911 call reporting an attempted burglary at an apartment complex on West Crystal Lake Avenue in the Westmont section of town.
Responding officers, including Officer Luke Falkenberg, found blood in the building’s lobby and elevator, which led them to a stairwell where they encountered 46-year-old Keith Edelin of Pennsauken.
Authorities said Mr. Edelin was armed with a knife and ignored multiple commands to drop the weapon.
Officers told him they were there to help, but after a roughly two-minute exchange, Mr. Edelin advanced toward them.
Officer Falkenberg then discharged his service weapon, striking him.
Police immediately rendered medical aid before emergency responders transported Mr. Edelin to Cooper University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later.
A knife was recovered at the scene. None of the officers were injured during the encounter.
OPIA said the release of the footage follows the Attorney General’s 2019 policy requiring transparency in investigations involving police use of deadly force.
Mr. Edelin’s family was given the opportunity to review the recordings before they were made public.
The shooting remains under investigation by OPIA.