James
Cohen

JAMES A. COHEN JR. was a career criminal. He was born on June 17, 1980. By the time he met his well-deserved end on March 17, 2007 he had been convicted and incarcerated in New Jersey State prisons three different times on nine separate charges 

James Cohen's criminal career was thankfully brought to an end by the Camden Police Department when he was spotted hiding after reports of shots were fir ed around Norris Street and Lansdowne Avenue in the city's Whitman Park section. When he was ordered to drop his weapon, Cohen raised it towards the officers at which time the officers dispatched him. He was found to be in possession of eight vials of PCP-soaked marijuana at the time, and a .48 caliber handgun which had been recently fired.

Camden Courier-Post * March 18, 2007

  By LAVINIA DeCASTRO
CAMDEN

A Camden police officer fatally shot a man after he allegedly threatened the officer with a semi-automatic handgun early Saturday morning.

James Cohen, 26, of Line Street, was taken to Cooper University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after the shooting, which took place at roughly 4:12 a.m., said Bill Shralow, spokesman for the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

Police officers Kevin Parry, 26, who fired the fatal shots, and Louis A. Sanchez, age unknown, were on patrol around Norris Street and Whitman Avenue in the city's Whitman Park section when they heard at least two gunshots coming from about a block away.

Parry, who was driving the patrol car, and Sanchez headed to the intersection of Norris Street and Lansdowne Avenue, where they spotted Cohen hiding behind a concrete railroad abutment, police said.

When Parry used the patrol car's spotlight to illuminate the area, the officers spotted a handgun in Cohen's hand, officials said.

Both officers then got out of the vehicle, drew their handguns and told Cohen to drop his weapon, authorities said.

But Cohen pointed the handgun at the officers instead and Parry fired nine shots, five of which struck Cohen, police said.

"A complete and thorough investigation will be conducted into this matter," acting Camden County Prosecutor Joshua M. Ottenberg said. "Based on preliminary information, it appears the officers were confronted with a dangerous situation and were justified in the actions they took."

Investigators recovered a .38-caliber handgun believed to have been the weapon Cohen was allegedly wielding.

Authorities did not say who Cohen was allegedly shooting at when police arrived, but two spent shell casings believed to have come from his weapon were found at the scene.

"We're not sure when those were fired," Shralow said. "He definitely fired his gun, but we're not sure when that happened."

Police say Cohen, who was released from prison in January, was also carrying eight vials of "wet" marijuana, which is saturated with phencyclidine, or PCP.

According to the New Jersey Department of Corrections, Cohen had an extensive record that included convictions for drug possession, burglary, receiving stolen property and resisting arrest.

Cohen also used the names Dave Cohen, Rex Cohen, James Ogden and Nijaquan Rex, Department of Corrections records show.

He served his first prison term from April through August 2001, a second from December 2002 through June 2004 and his last from November 2004 through January of this year, according to state records.

Parry and Sanchez, who were not injured in the incident, were taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center after the shooting and later released. Parry has been on the force for six months and Sanchez for 10 years.

Last year, Sanchez injured his knee when he collided with the front end of a police car while pursuing a fleeing teenager involved in illegal drug activities.

Both officers were placed on routine administrative leave pending further investigation, officials said.

The final determination as to whether the officers' conduct was appropriate will come from the Attorney General's Office, which participates in all fatal police shooting investigations, Shralow said..

Camden Courier-Post * October 29, 1931

  By LAVINIA DeCASTRO
CAMDEN

A Camden police officer fatally shot a man after he allegedly threatened the officer with a semi-automatic handgun early Saturday morning.

James Cohen, 26, of Line Street, was taken to Cooper University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after the shooting, which took place at roughly 4:12 a.m., said Bill Shralow, spokesman for the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

Police officers Kevin Parry, 26, who fired the fatal shots, and Louis A. Sanchez, age unknown, were on patrol around Norris Street and Whitman Avenue in the city's Whitman Park section when they heard at least two gunshots coming from about a block away.

Parry, who was driving the patrol car, and Sanchez headed to the intersection of Norris Street and Lansdowne Avenue, where they spotted Cohen hiding behind a concrete railroad abutment, police said.

When Parry used the patrol car's spotlight to illuminate the area, the officers spotted a handgun in Cohen's hand, officials said.

Both officers then got out of the vehicle, drew their handguns and told Cohen to drop his weapon, authorities said.

But Cohen pointed the handgun at the officers instead and Parry fired nine shots, five of which struck Cohen, police said.

"A complete and thorough investigation will be conducted into this matter," acting Camden County Prosecutor Joshua M. Ottenberg said. "Based on preliminary information, it appears the officers were confronted with a dangerous situation and were justified in the actions they took."

Investigators recovered a .38-caliber handgun believed to have been the weapon Cohen was allegedly wielding.

Authorities did not say who Cohen was allegedly shooting at when police arrived, but two spent shell casings believed to have come from his weapon were found at the scene.

"We're not sure when those were fired," Shralow said. "He definitely fired his gun, but we're not sure when that happened."

Police say Cohen, who was released from prison in January, was also carrying eight vials of "wet" marijuana, which is saturated with phencyclidine, or PCP.

According to the New Jersey Department of Corrections, Cohen had an extensive record that included convictions for drug possession, burglary, receiving stolen property and resisting arrest.

Cohen also used the names Dave Cohen, Rex Cohen, James Ogden and Nijaquan Rex, Department of Corrections records show.

He served his first prison term from April through August 2001, a second from December 2002 through June 2004 and his last from November 2004 through January of this year, according to state records.

Parry and Sanchez, who were not injured in the incident, were taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center after the shooting and later released. Parry has been on the force for six months and Sanchez for 10 years.

Last year, Sanchez injured his knee when he collided with the front end of a police car while pursuing a fleeing teenager involved in illegal drug activities.

Both officers were placed on routine administrative leave pending further investigation, officials said.

The final determination as to whether the officers' conduct was appropriate will come from the Attorney General's Office, which participates in all fatal police shooting investigations, Shralow said..