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On August 8, 2025, at about 4 a.m., New Brunswick police officers were dispatched to an apartment building on Neilson Street for a 911 call reporting that a female resident, later identified as Deborah Terrell, 68, of New Brunswick, was disturbing other residents. Officers tried to speak with her, but she would not speak with them or open her apartment door.

At 7:32 a.m., officers were sent back to the same apartment after another 911 call reported that Terrell was repeatedly going in and out of her apartment and threatening other tenants with a knife. Emergency medical services were contacted and EMTs were asked to stage outside for a possible evaluation.

Officers arrived around 7:38 a.m. Civilians confirmed they had seen Terrell with a large knife. Officers went to her apartment, knocked, and Terrell opened the door with a knife in her hand. After officers told her to drop it, she shut and locked the door, then moved the knife back and forth under the bottom of the door.

During the exchange, Terrell said a man was inside the apartment with her, but refused to let him come to the door. She later opened the door and pointed the knife at officers before shutting it again.

Officers assigned "lethal" and "less lethal" duties at the door. A short time later, Terrell opened the door, stepped into the hallway saying, "C'mon," and held the knife. One officer used pepper spray and another used a taser. Terrell initially backed into the apartment, then turned back toward officers and advanced with the knife in her hand.

An officer fired twice, striking Terrell. Officers gave medical aid, and she was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where she was pronounced deceased. A 12-inch knife was recovered at the scene.

Watch the video of this incident here.