District attorney questions lack of transparency over Redstone Township shooting
Fayette County’s district attorney said he was “disappointed” that the Redstone Township Police Department has remained tight-lipped about the status of an officer who shot and killed a man last month.
When reached by phone Friday, District Attorney Mike Aubele said he had not specifically inquired about whether the police officer had been placed on administrative leave.
“That’s not my purview. That’s up to the township. I’m not sure why they can’t release that information,” Aubele said.
On Jan. 28 police were called to 132 Lyndale Road in Grindstone to conduct a wellness check on 27-year-old Christopher Hackney. Nearly a month later details on what preceded the shooting are scant.
“The information that we’ve got so far, he presented a threat to the officer, and the officer ended up firing,” Aubele said of the ongoing investigation into the incident.
In the days following the shooting Redstone Township Supervisor George Matis and police Chief Troy Rice declined to comment on the case. When a reporter visited the police station, Rice would not answer if the officer, who has not been identified, had been placed on administrative leave.
The lack of information being provided by township officials led the Herald-Standard to file a Right-To-Know (RTK) request for records of any paid or unpaid leave for township officers. The township requested a 30-day legal review before responding to the request.
Aubele noted that it is standard practice in an officer involved shooting for the officer to be placed on administrative leave, regardless of the circumstances.
“I’m very disappointed that Redstone Township can’t at least tell you the status of the officer,” Aubele said. “It’s not for me to release, and I don’t know.”
A GoFundMe page raising money to support Hackney’s family was established by his sister days after he was killed. As of Friday the fundraising campaign had raised $3,930 of its $4,500 goal. The money is to go towards travel expenses, missed wages and funeral costs.
Aubele said he expects his office will have a decision on whether or not the shooting was justified “pretty shortly,” but declined to provide details.
“My apologies that there is not much else I can release right now. Our office goes out of our way to be as transparent as possible. Unfortunately, this process has to play itself out,” Aubele said. “I owe the public and officer a complete and thorough investigation. I’m not going to say anything that could jeopardize the investigation until I have everything in front of me.”