Grand jury clears Hillsborough police officer in fatal shooting
A state grand jury has decided not to file criminal charges against a Hillsborough police officer who fatally shot a township resident in 2022.
The state Attorney General’s Office announced Thursday that Officer Christopher Michaels would not be charged in the death of Joshua Mathis, 19, on Jan. 9, 2022, at an apartment on Corporal Langon Way off Amwell Road, less than a mile from Hillsborough High School.
The investigation included a review of 911 calls, video footage from a Taser and several body-worn cameras, photographs, interviews of law enforcement and civilian witnesses and autopsy results.
After hearing the testimony and reviewing the evidence, the grand jury voted Monday that no criminal charges should be filed against Michaels.
According to the investigation, at approximately 6:12 p.m. Jan. 9, 2022, police officers went to the Corporal Langon Way apartment after Mathis made two 911 calls saying he had a gun and would kill anyone that came near him.
A third 911 call was made by a female resident who said Mathis had a knife in his hand.
When officers encountered Mathis inside the apartment, he was holding a knife and told officers that if they did not shoot him, he was going to charge at them in 30 seconds.
During the encounter, Mathis also took out an imitation gun from his waistband, which he threw to the floor.
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Despite officers’ attempts to verbally de-escalate the situation, Mathis advanced toward the officers with the knife in his hand less than 90 seconds after officers entered the apartment.
At that point Michaels deployed his Taser, but Mathis continued to advance at the officers with the knife in his hand.
Another Hillsborough officer with a ballistics shield attempted to knock Mathis to the ground, but Mathis remained on his feet.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, Mathis was within arm’s length of a third officer and swinging the knife, when Michaels fired his service weapon, fatally wounding Mathis.
Although police and emergency medical personnel rendered medical aid, Mathis was pronounced deceased at the scene at 6:51 p.m.
State law requires the Attorney General’s Office to conduct investigations of a person’s death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody.
The law requires that all such investigations be presented to a grand jury to determine if the evidence supports the return of an indictment against the officer or officers involved.
Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com
Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Hillsborough NJ police officer cleared in fatal shooting
