By: Richard L. Smith
A Monmouth County Grand Jury has declined to bring criminal charges in a non-fatal police-involved shooting that occurred in Rumson last year, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Tuesday.
The shooting involved Fair Haven Police Officer Brooks Robinson, whose use of force was reviewed by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Professional Responsibility Unit under the oversight of the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability.
According to investigative findings, the incident began shortly before 4:45 a.m. on Friday, September 6, 2024, when officers from Rumson and nearby towns were dispatched to two locations in the borough for reports of suspects involved in vehicle and attempted residential burglaries.
The first Rumson officer on scene encountered the suspects’ vehicle, which sideswiped his patrol car and fled. He immediately pursued the vehicle.
Officer Robinson, already on duty in Fair Haven, responded to Rumson to assist after hearing the burglary reports.
As he turned onto Avenue of Two Rivers, he saw both the suspect vehicle and the Rumson patrol vehicle approaching.
Robinson activated his emergency lights, stopped, and got out of his patrol car.
Investigators said the suspect vehicle initially appeared to slow down as if stopping but then accelerated directly toward Robinson.
The officer drew his weapon, issued commands, and fired, striking a passenger later identified as 28-year-old Nnamdi Atumudo of Irvington.
Moments later, the suspect vehicle crashed and became disabled. Officers quickly rendered medical aid to Atumudo, who suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the face.
The investigation included statements from witnesses, physical evidence, mobile video recordings, and body-worn camera footage. Testimony from a Rumson officer who witnessed the shooting, as well as Officer Robinson’s own recorded interview, was also reviewed by the Grand Jury, which ultimately declined to file criminal charges.
The presentation was conducted in accordance with the Attorney General’s 2019 Independent Prosecutor Directive.
A required conflicts check found no actual or potential conflict of interest involving anyone assigned to the case.