Attorneys Ben Crump and Devon Jacob Announce Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of Christian Hall’s Family

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“Members of the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) shot and killed 19-year-old Christian Hall during a mental health emergency while he was standing with his hands up in the universal stance of surrender. PSP then issued a false statement on its official letterhead in an attempt to coverup the wrongdoing. Subsequently, the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office permitted PSP to investigate itself, published a misleading PowerPoint presentation in an attempt to bolster PSP’s false claims, and cleared the Trooper of wrongdoing. When Christian’s parents served a subpoena on the Commissioner of PSP to obtain the unredacted mobile video recordings, PSP tried unsuccessfully to force them to enter into a confidentiality agreement before releasing the video. The video definitively establishes that Christian’s homicide was not lawful. The Pennsylvania Attorney General, however, does not have the legal authority to intervene. In October of 2021, Christian’s parents filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice, Acting U.S. Attorney Bruce Brandler, and the FBI.”

“What happened to Christian and his parents is not excusable. Government should always be accountable to the people. The Pennsylvania Legislature must provide the Pennsylvania Attorney General with the legal authority to investigate deaths caused by law enforcement officers. The Legislature must also act to remove the cloak of secrecy under which law enforcement in this Commonwealth is permitted to operate as a result of the Criminal History Records Information Act (“CHRIA”) and the exceptions to Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law.”

“Just like George Floyd’s unlawful homicide, the involved Troopers who committed this unlawful homicide took time to deliberate before they decided to end Christian Hall’s life. We obtained justice for George Floyd and we will obtain justice for Christian Hall.”