Family of Grindstone man shot by police starts GoFundMe
A Grindstone man who was fatally shot by police during a welfare check on Tuesday had been struggling with his mental health, his sister wrote in a GoFundMe post.
Christopher Hackney, 27, was shot by Redstone Township police at his home on Lyndale Road around 9 p.m. Tuesday. According to a release from state police, Redstone officers responded to the home after someone requested they check the welfare of a suicidal man.
No details have been released about what occurred when police arrived to prompt the shooting, and Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele said Thursday that the investigation is “still very active.” Aubele said he may be able to release more details next week.
Hackney’s sister, identified in the GoFundMe post as Amber Mower, said her brother struggled with his mental health “for many years.”
“Whether you knew him personally or not, if you ever had the chance to connect with Chris, you would have seen his kind heart and his genuine care for the world around him. He truly wanted the best for everyone, and it breaks our hearts that he couldn’t find peace,” she wrote.
No one from the Redstone Township Police Department has responded to numerous calls for comment.
State police spokesman Trooper Rocco Gagliardi said it is common for officers who are involved in shootings to be put on administrative leave; however, he could not say if Redstone Township has such a policy in place. Calls to the township supervisors, who oversee the four-person department, were not returned.
Fayette County Coroner Dr. Bob Baker said he had no plans to conduct an inquest to look further into Hackney’s death.
As of late Thursday afternoon, the GoFundMe had raised nearly $1,500 of its $2,600 goal. The post said the family will use the money to assist out-of-state family with travel to the area and help with funeral and other expenses.
To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-the-hackneys-remembering-chris.