The city’s mayor on Wednesday sought to downplay a reported threat by gang members in the wake of Sunday’s shooting that claimed the life of a rookie police officer and a city man, and said an officer faced discipline for sharing a notice about the threat online.
Word of the purported threat by Bloods gang members came as Jersey City prepared for funeral services for Officer Melvin Santiago, a 23-year-old who was slain early Sunday outside a 24-hour drugstore in what authorities say was an ambush.
Mayor Steven Fulop confirmed the city’s police department issued a notice that an informant spoke of Bloods gang members targeting police for retaliation, and specifically mentioned officers stationed on the Pulaski Skyway, which is partially closed for construction.
Fulop said such threats frequently crop up after police shootings and are rarely credible.
“Every urban area, every police department knows that after every single police shooting, threats come in,” Fulop said. “Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of the time they’re not credible, but we always take them seriously.”
The mayor said it’s unclear whether Santiago’s killer, 27-year-old Lawrence Campbell, who had prior drug arrests and was being sought in connection with a separate murder at the time of his death, was affiliated with the Bloods.
Since Sunday, tensions have risen over a sidewalk memorial set up for Campbell in the crime-plagued neighborhood where he lived. Fulop ordered the memorial taken down Tuesday.
Around the corner from Campbell’s memorial is a separate memorial to Lavon King, a 20-year-old shot by police after they said he struggled with a police officer and tried to disarm him.
Fulop said Santiago will be promoted to the rank of detective and receive the department’s Medal of Honor. The promotion and ceremony will happen at his wake Thursday. His funeral is scheduled for Friday.
Gov. Chris Christie ordered flags at state office buildings to be flown at half-staff Wednesday for Santiago.