Corporal Salvatore Oldrati’s case, once ruled a justified shooting, has resurfaced nearly four years later with criminal charges, drawing public attention and raising over $10,000 through a GiveSendGo campaign for his defense.
Local support is pouring in for the Mantua Township officer, whose family and attorneys argue he acted to protect himself and fellow officers in what many are describing as a “tragic misunderstanding that spiraled out of control,” as reported by NJ Advance Media.
On September 14, 2021, Oldrati was called to a reported burglary in Mantua Township, arriving to find Charles Sharp III, the homeowner, outside his property armed with a handgun. Fellow officer Corporal Robert Layton, first on the scene, had also shouted to indicate that Shrap was armed. Within five seconds of exiting his vehicle, Oldrati fired his weapon, striking Sharp multiple times and fatally wounding him.
The shooting was quickly reviewed by the New Jersey State Police Shooting Response Team and the Attorney General’s Office. Oldrati was cleared to return to work weeks later and promoted to corporal the following year. However, in May 2023, nearly two years after the shooting, a grand jury indicted Oldrati on a charge of second-degree reckless manslaughter.
The Attorney General’s Office contends Oldrati fired without giving Sharp any warning and that body camera footage does not support his claim that Sharp pointed the gun at him. Sharp’s family says he was calm on the 911 call, reporting intruders and unaware he would be seen as a threat when police arrived.
It was later determined that the handgun in Sharp’s possession was a replica .45-caliber firearm, leading some to question whether Oldrati was ever truly in imminent danger and spurring action from the Attorney General’s office.
State Attorney General Matthew Platkin commented on the case, stating, “When residents call 911 for service, they are concerned, they need assistance, they seek protection - and they trust the officers responding to their calls will respond accordingly and help them. Tragically, that did not happen here,” as reported by CBS News.
But Oldrati’s lawyer, Christopher St. John, argues critical facts were overlooked. According to police reports and 911 audio, Corporal Layton arrived first and ordered Sharp to drop the weapon 14 seconds before Oldrati opened fire. Layton said Sharp pointed the gun at him, prompting him to retreat and call out the warning to Oldrati as he arrived.
Oldrati’s parents insist their son acted reasonably to an imminent threat. Toxicology reports revealed Sharp had methamphetamine, amphetamine, and cocaine in his system, and his ex-wife told investigators he had a history of psychiatric struggles and suicidal behavior. Oldrati’s attorney and a use-of-force expert maintain that, given Sharp’s apparent threat, deadly force was justified and within standard operating procedures as dictated by state guidelines.
Local police and officials initially agreed. After the incident, Oldrati resumed work and was even recognized for his service. His parents and supporters point to this as evidence that the shooting was not seen as reckless until the Attorney General’s Office reopened the case under new leadership.
Now, Oldrati and his family face a difficult road. Suspended without pay since the indictment, he and his wife, who is expecting their second child, rely on community support to meet basic needs. A GiveSendGo fundraising page has been set up by his mother, Barbara Oldrati, to help cover legal fees and living expenses while they await a trial date.
“He was cleared, he went back to work, and now he’s facing prison time for doing what he was trained to do,” Barbara said. “We’re not giving up.”
Oldrati’s indictment has sparked fierce debate about how law enforcement decisions are judged long after the fact. Supporters say officers like Oldrati should not be second-guessed for making, as the GiveSendGo page states, "split-second" decisions that are made under the threat of violence, especially when he had no way of knowing that the weapon in Sharp’s possession was a replica.
Body camera footage confirms that Corporal Robert Layton issued a verbal warning before the shooting. Layton can be heard on the 911 call shouting, “Put the gun down,” approximately 14 seconds before Officer Salvatore Oldrati opened fire. Furthermore, the body camera footage captures Layton alerting Oldrati to the presence of a handgun, stating, “He's got a handgun on him, right there!” as reported by the New York Post.
This detail is significant because the Attorney General's indictment emphasizes that Oldrati did not issue a verbal command prior to shooting. However, Layton's warning could be considered part of the officers' collective response, potentially influencing the assessment of whether proper procedures were followed.
For now, Oldrati faces an uncertain future as he awaits trial. His attorney has rejected a plea deal, saying they are prepared to prove in court that Oldrati’s actions were not reckless, but a necessary response to a deadly threat.
As donations grow and messages of support flood in, the online campaign underscores a community’s belief in Oldrati’s innocence and determination to stand by him during what his family says is the fight of his life.
