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NJ AG Releases Video of Hillsborough Man Charging at Police with Knife

Hillsborough Township

A desperate attempt by Hillsborough Police to get a man to drop a knife inside a home ended in a fatal police-involved shooting when a video of the incident apparently showed the suspect charging at police with a knife. 

The Attorney General’s Office today released three 911 calls, video footage from four body-worn cameras, a Taser camera video, and police radio communications related to a fatal police-involved shooting that occurred on January 9 in Hillsborough. 

The decedent has been identified as  Mr. Joshua Mathis, 19, of Hillsborough.

The fatal shooting remains under investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA).

The recordings are being released in response to an OPRA request and pursuant to policies established by the Attorney General’s Office in 2019 that are designed to promote the fair, impartial, and transparent investigation of fatal police encounters. Investigators met today with Mr. Mathis’ family to review the recordings.

The NJ Attorney General’s Office said according to the preliminary investigation, at approximately 6:12 p.m. on January 9, officers of the Hillsborough Police Department responded to Corporal Langon Way after three 911 calls.

Two of the 911 calls were made by Mr. Mathis.

When officers arrived, they encountered Mr. Mathis inside an apartment holding a knife.

During the encounter, Mr. Mathis also took out an imitation gun from his waistband, which he threw to the floor.

The preliminary investigation revealed that at approximately 6:26 p.m., Mr. Mathis advanced toward the officers with the knife raised.

Officer Christopher Michaels deployed his Taser at Mr. Mathis and then fired his service weapon, fatally wounding Mr. Mathis.

Police and emergency medical personnel rendered first aid, and Mr. Mathis was pronounced deceased at the scene at 6:51 p.m.

The recordings are posted online: Click here for recordings.

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