the family of Andrew Washington says they're moving forward with a wrongful death lawsuit against Jersey City Jersey City Medical Center and Hudson County even after a state grand jury declined to indict the officer who shot and killed him Washington was fatally wounded by a Jersey City policeman in August of 2023 while suffering a mental health episode Last week a grand jury decided not to press criminal charges Washington's family and attorneys spoke in Jersey City today criticizing both the grand jury's decision and local leaders for how they responded to the shooting Mayor and gubanatorial candidate Steve Fulip and public safety director James Sheay have publicly defended how the officers responded While Washington's family alleges that officers escalated the situation inside their home body camera footage shows Washington holding a knife while approaching officers after an hour and a half standoff and officers shooting him in response These officers violated his rights under the US Constitution They also violated his rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act And nothing about the decision not to criminally prosecute these officers changes that fact An attorney for the Washington family says they're in the process of obtaining more police body camera footage from the Attorney General's office