In the late summer evening of August 21, 2020, a domestic dispute call led to the fatal police shooting of 39-year-old Hasani Best, a Black man, in his Asbury Park, New Jersey apartment. The incident began when Asbury Park police officers responded to a 911 call reporting a loud domestic argument at a residence on 4th Avenue shortly after 9 p.m. Upon their arrival, they encountered a woman outside the home, while Best had barricaded himself inside an upstairs apartment.
What followed was
a tense standoff that lasted for nearly an hour. Officers, who were aware of Best from previous encounters, attempted to negotiate with him through the apartment door. During the confrontation, Best periodically opened the door, revealing that he was armed with a knife. Despite repeated requests from the police to drop the weapon, he refused. At one point, officers deployed a Taser in an attempt to subdue him, but the device was ineffective, and Best retreated back into the room.
The standoff reached a tragic conclusion around 10:10 p.m. As officers continued to plead with him, Best opened the door again. While gesturing with the knife, he reportedly made a statement to the effect of, 'I'm gonna stab him.' In response, Asbury Park Police Sgt. Sean DeShader fired his service weapon twice, striking Best. Officers rendered medical aid, and Best was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 10:31 p.m.
The New Jersey Attorney General's Office launched an investigation into the shooting, as is standard procedure for deaths involving law enforcement. The investigation included a review of body camera footage and witness interviews. Ultimately, the case was presented to a grand jury, which in November 2022, voted not to file criminal charges against Sgt. DeShader, concluding his actions were justified. Following the grand jury's decision, Best's family, who had filed a wrongful death lawsuit, reached a $1.3 million settlement with the city of Asbury Park on behalf of his three children.
