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On August 8, 2025, at about 4 a.m., New Brunswick police officers went to an apartment building on Neilson Street after a 911 call about a female resident disturbing other residents. The woman was later identified as Deborah Terrell, 68, of New Brunswick. Officers tried to speak with her, but she would not talk to 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 asked to wait outside for a possible evaluation.

Officers arrived around 7:38 a.m. and spoke with civilians who confirmed seeing 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 door.

During a brief exchange through the door, Terrell said a man was inside the apartment with her. Officers asked if he could come to the door and speak with them, but she refused and stopped talking. She later opened the door and pointed the knife at officers before shutting it again.

Officers assigned lethal and less-lethal roles 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 first backed into her 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 Terrell was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where she was pronounced dead. A 12-inch knife was recovered at the scene.

The officers' identities are not being released at this time due to threats made against them. The investigation is ongoing and must be presented to a grand jury.

Listen to the 911 calls and dispatch audio for this incident here.