Stolen Lives

His Story

El Tarmaine “LT” Sanders was only 14 years old when his life was tragically taken on April 17, 1994, in Glassboro, New Jersey.

According to reports at the time, LT was shot and killed by a Glassboro police officer during an encounter outside a home on Pilar Street. Authorities stated that officers had responded to a disturbance and claimed that LT had been involved in a fight and was holding a knife when the officer fired his weapon.

The shooting quickly drew strong reactions from the community. Many residents questioned the circumstances surrounding the incident and whether deadly force should have been used against a young teenager. Witnesses and community members expressed anger and grief as the case became the subject of public debate.

A Gloucester County grand jury later declined to indict the officer involved in the shooting, a decision that further divided opinion within the community and left many people feeling that justice had not been served.

LT was only a child, and his life mattered — a young teenager whose life had barely begun. His death left behind family members, friends, and a community still remembering a life taken far too soon.

LT’s name and story are remembered here so that people can be more aware, and that he is never forgotten.