Social justice advocates are calling for a transparent investigation of a New Jersey state trooper shooting and killing of 28-year-old Maurice Gordon of New York two days before the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Newly-released tape shows the encounter on the southbound side of the Garden State Parkway near exit 50 in Bass River where Gordon steered his apparently disabled Honda to the left shoulder after passing a trooper at 110 miles an hour. The dash camera shows Sgt. Randall Wetzel encouraging Gordon to get in his trooper vehicle. Gordon sits in the back seat.

The tape clearly shows the sergeant calling for a tow truck. He asks Gordon where does he want the car towed and whether Gordon can pay for it. The trooper also offers Gordon a face mask. The trooper is standing behind his own car when Gordon decides he wants to get out.

The two scuffle for a minute and a half. Then the trooper shoots Gordon six times.

Gordon falls to the ground. The trooper handcuffs him.

This is what he says when backup arrives: “He was in my car. I gave him a mask, he tried getting out of my car. We got in a fight on the side of the road. He tried running into my car. I got him out, sprayed him. We got in a fight again, he ran away from me tried to hop into my car. I grabbed my gun. We were fighting with my gun and I shot him. He’s already cuffed.”

What lead to the fatal shots being fired and Gordon’s death are now being investigated. Gordon’s family has hired attorney William Wagstaff.

“They have an officer who used deadly force on an unarmed man when he could have allowed this man to exit the vehicle. He could have done several things to try to deescalate the situation instead of escalating the situation by immediately engaging in physical force,” Wagstaff said.

“He was not under the influence of any drugs or alcohol. Maurice Gordon did not use drugs. He did not drink any alcohol,” Wagstaff added.

State Troopers Fraternal Association President Wayne Blanchard blames Gordon for the fatal end of the encounter.

“The behavior of Mr. Gordon was erratic, and Sgt. Wetzel has responsibilities and obligations as a law enforcement officer out on the road there to keep not only himself safe, but more importantly Mr. Gordon and the motoring public safe,” said Blanchard.

Civil rights advocates call the killing “troubling.” All sides are calling for a fair investigation as they await results of Gordon’s autopsy.