WAYNE, NJ – A Passaic County Grand Jury has ruled that Wayne Police Lieutenant Douglas Itjen was justified when he shot a Wayne man armed with two swords multiple times during a February confrontation.
Two incidents occurred on February 14, 2025, involving Wayne resident Connor Darpino. Earlier in the day, he was involved in a single-car accident where Wayne police responded.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, “In the ensuing interaction, Connor Darpino became argumentative and combative with a responding officer. He was arrested, charged on a Summons-Complaint, and released from Wayne Police Headquarters.”
Later that night, just before 10 p.m., police were called to a home on White Birch Court in Wayne, after a report that Darpino had intentionally taken 20 Xanax pills and had become unhinged.
After police arrived, “Connor Darpino emerged on an [indoor] second-floor balcony [leading to a staircase], holding two swords,” reads the statement. “In the ensuing interaction, he stated to the officers on scene that he would jump down from the balcony and stab them.”
He then retreated into a second-floor room, but moments later he “emerged from the second-floor room with the two swords, one in each hand. He descended the stairs, with the two swords extended in the direction of Lieutenant Itjen and another officer. Officers gave him verbal commands to drop the swords. Connor Darpino did not drop the swords [as he continued down the stairs], and Lieutenant Itjen fired his service weapon seven times, striking Connor Darpino five times.”
Body camera video released in March shows the moment (see below).
“The video shows him coming down the stairs in an aggressive manner with both swords leveled,” said the Prosecutor’s Office. After the shooting, “Wayne Police immediately rendered aid to Connor Darpino, who was transported to Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center for treatment.”
At the time, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said that the suspect was in “critical but stable condition.” She later announced that Darpino faced several charges, including: Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, 3rd Degree; Terroristic Threats, 3rd Degree; Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, 4th Degree – two counts; and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, 4th Degree.
Their investigation included “neighborhood canvassing, civilian and police witness statements, review of video footage, review of 911 and radio transmissions, and collection and review of physical evidence,” according to Valdes.
After reviewing those findings, the Grand Jury was asked to decide whether Itjen’s actions were legally justified.
In her September 11, 2025 statement, Prosecutor Valdes explained: “After hearing the details of the investigation and being instructed on the applicable law, the Passaic County Grand Jury found that Lieutenant Itjen’s use of deadly, but not fatal, force was legally justified.”
She added that under New Jersey law, “the use of deadly force on another is justified when the person reasonably believes it is immediately necessary to use deadly force to protect oneself from death or serious bodily harm. In addition, a person may use force on another to protect a third person when that third person would be justified to use force in self-protection.”
The Prosecutor’s Office has released the body-worn camera video of the incident, along with a warning: “Please be advised this footage contains images and language of a graphic nature.”
