UPDATE: State Grand Jury Declines to Criminally Charge Law Enforcement Officer in Connection with February 20, 2026 Fatal Crash in Woodbridge, N.J.

TRENTON — A state grand jury has voted not to file any criminal charges against Woodbridge Police Officer Khari Manzini at the conclusion of its deliberations regarding a fatal motor vehicle crash during an encounter with law enforcement in February. 

The driver of one of the civilian vehicles involved in the crash was previously identified as Mikael Salman, 18, of Iselin. Mr. Salman’s juvenile passenger was pronounced deceased on the date of the crash, and the identity of the juvenile decedent is not being released.

The encounter was investigated by the Attorney General’s Office and presented to New Jersey residents serving on the grand jury in accordance with the Independent Prosecutor Directive of 2019, which was issued following the enactment of a state law requiring the Attorney General’s Office to investigate civilian fatalities during law enforcement encounters.

The investigation included a review of surveillance video footage, motor vehicle recorder footage, radio transmissions, autopsy reports, and law enforcement and civilian interviews. After hearing the testimony and evidence, the grand jury finished deliberating on November 9, 2026, and voted “no bill,” concluding no criminal charges should be filed against Officer Manzini.

According to the investigation, on February 19, shortly before 12 a.m., a Nissan Maxima operated by Mr. Salman allegedly traveled at a high speed southbound on Route 1. Officer Manzini, in a marked patrol vehicle, left his stationary position and attempted to catch up to the vehicle. The vehicles traveled from Route 1 South onto residential streets before re-entering Route 1 South.

Approximately one minute after re-entering Route 1 South, the Nissan collided with a second civilian vehicle in the area of Gill Lane. The juvenile passenger in the Nissan was pronounced deceased at 12:25 a.m. February 20. Mr. Salman was hospitalized for the treatment of injuries from the crash. The investigation also revealed that the body of a deceased dog was located inside the Nissan.

The occupants of the second vehicle involved in the crash sustained serious injuries and were transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital for treatment. The police vehicle was not directly involved in the collision.

Video footage of the events surrounding the crash was previously released and is available here: https://njoag.box.com/s/pblntysu82pd4iqt70leyvqx92igifzd

A 2019 law, N.J.S.A. 52:17B-107(a)(2), requires the Attorney General’s Office to conduct investigations of a person’s death, and in certain circumstances, the serious bodily injury of another, that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody. It requires that all such investigations be presented to a grand jury to determine if the evidence supports the return of an indictment against the officer or officers involved. The grand jury is instructed on the elements of the potential criminal offenses, including criminal homicide offenses, that could be brought and, as required by statutes, the grand jury is instructed on self-defense and other forms of legal justification.

A conflicts check was conducted pursuant to the Independent Prosecutor Directive, and no actual or potential conflict of interest was found involving any individual assigned to the investigation. Prior to presentation to the grand jury, the investigation was reviewed in accordance with the policies and procedures established for these presentations in the SOPs.

At the conclusion of these investigations, pursuant to the Independent Prosecutor Directive and SOPs, the Division of Criminal Justice (“DCJ”) determines whether any principal should be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency for administrative review in accordance with the AG’s Internal Affairs Policy & Procedures. DCJ monitors any resulting review and takes such actions as are necessary to ensure that the review is completed in a timely fashion, and that appropriate actions are taken based on the results of the review.

Further information about how fatal police encounters are investigated in New Jersey under the Independent Prosecutor Directive can be here: www.nj.gov/oag/dcj/agguide/directives/ag-Directive-2019-4.pdf

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