‘A lot of inaccurate information’ after Brick police fatally shoot man, authorities say

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office hasn't yet said much to clarify conflicting reports of what happened in an encounter between a 21-year-old Brick Township man and township police Sunday that left the man dead.

But "I will say this," office spokesman Al Della Fave told New Jersey 101.5 Thursday. "A lot of inaccurate information has been circulated due to speculation on the part of the media, social media and the public."

The prosecutor's office has said police responded to a home on Cherrywood CIrcle after receiving a call from a man threatening to “create a disturbance" — later identified as Julian Hoffman. The prosecutor's office said Brick officers Jason Nye and Ryan Osborn encountered Hoffman, who had “what appeared to be a black semi-automatic hand gun” that officers ordered him to drop. When he failed to comply, the officers fired at the man several times, killing him, the office said.

But the Asbury Park Press has quoted Julian Hoffman's father, Derek Hoffman, saying his son had an air rifle that he put on the ground, surrendering. And NJ.com quoted Derek Hoffman saying he has proof that his sons arms were up during the shoot. Derek Hoffman reportedly told the site a video surveillance camera mounted at his front entranceway captured the proof.

The prosecutor's office has not yet clarified what sort of weapon or other item Julian Hoffman had, or directly addressed the claims attributed to Derek Hoffman.

Della Fave said Thursday nothing more would be released that day, as Julian Hoffman's wake was scheduled for Thursday and his funeral for Friday, and the prosecutor's office would wait until those services were complete out of respect for the family.

Both officers involved are on paid leave as a matter of standard procedure while the incident is investigated, Brick Police Chief Nils R. Bergquist told New Jersey 101.5 Tuesday.

He said the two were "very good officers" with no history of disciplinary trouble.

Since the shooting, Julian Hoffman's girlfriend, Katie Ghidella, has been posting pictures remembering their time together on Instagram:

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