May 14, 2025 By Zach Petroff 3 min read

After a ruling last week from the state Office of Open Records, Redstone Township officials released the name of the officer who fatally shot a 27-year-old man earlier this year.

Supervisor George Matis, the township’s right-to-know officer, identified Cpl. Jacob Nunley as the officer who shot Christopher Hackney on Jan. 28. Matis, who released the information via email on Monday, said Nunley was put on administrative leave from Jan. 29 until April 4, a little less than two weeks before Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele cleared the officer of any wrongdoing.

In an April 16 statement, Aubele indicated Nunley shot Hackney after Hackney threatened him and pointed an Airsoft BB gun that looked similar to an AR-15 rifle at him. The district attorney said deadly force is justified “not only when (police) are in actual danger of unlawful attack but also when they mistakenly, but reasonably, believe they are.”

According to Aubele’s statement, Hackney had made prior statements to a suicide hotline that he wanted to commit “suicide by cop.” Aubele also noted Hackney had a .256% BAC and prescription drugs in his system when he was shot.

In the days after the shooting, information from the township had been sparse, prompting a reporter from the Herald-Standard to file a right-to-know request after both Matis and police Chief Troy Rice declined to disclose whether the officer who shot Hackney was placed on leave.

A reporter asked for the names, ranks, salaries and hire dates of all of the township officers, as well as whether any of the officers were on leave as of the day Hackney was shot.

In February, Matis indicated one unnamed officer – now identified as Nunley – was placed on leave and indicated he was hired on April 1, 2017 and makes $46,858.50. Matis provided a link to the township’s website that named the other officers and gave their ranks, but did not disclose their salary or hire date.

In response, the Herald-Standard filed an appeal with the Office of Open Records, arguing the public has a right to the information.

Ultimately the OOR ruled in favor of the newspaper, stating that the township failed to demonstrate it was permitted to withhold the officer’s name and the other information requested.

“Because the township only submits conclusory evidence, it is not enough to meet its burden that the release of the officer’s name relates to a noncriminal investigation,” the ruling stated.

The other township officers are Chief Troy Rice, who was hired on Sept. 13, 2010 and makes $51,872.91; Sgt. John Brandt, who was hired on Oct. 14, 2009 and makes $21.338.83; Patrolman Matthew Rouse, who was hired on June 2, 2021 and makes $4,682.50.