Investigators unsure if video captured Brick cops shooting man dead

Will a video show what happened when Brick police fatally shot a man in an encounter in late August?

Maybe — if there is any video.

Julian Hoffman's father has been quoted by the Asbury Park Press saying there may be as many as three videos showing the encounter that left his son dead — surveillance videos and a police dashboard camera recording. Derek Hoffman reportedly said recently he's trying to get his hands on the footage.

But Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Spokesman Al Della Fave told New Jersey 101.5 Tuesday investigators are still researching whether any such video exists.

Della Fave didn't elaborate in his brief message, responding to a request for an update on the investigation, except to say that the investigation continues.

Several exact details of the encounter remain unclear.

According to a statement released last week by the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, Julian Hoffman called Brick Police and threatened to "create a disturbance" at the Cherrywood Circle home where he lived with his father.

When Brick officers Jason Nye and Ryan Osborn arrived they encountered Hoffman, who had “what appeared to be a black semi-automatic hand gun” that officers ordered him to drop, the prosecutor's office has said. When he failed to comply, the officers fired at the man several times, killing him, the office said.

Derek Hoffman, has been quoted in multiple media accounts saying his son had an air rifle — and that Julian Hoffman put it down when commanded. But Derek Hoffman also reportedly said he didn't witness the encounter himself.

Derek Hoffman, contacted by NJ 101.5 last month, has only spoken briefly and not elaborated on those statements. He has not returned more recent calls seeking comment.

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office has not addressed what sort of item it described as "what appeared to be" a gun, but Della Fave told New Jersey 101.5 last month "a lot of inaccurate information" has been spread in social and conventional media.

New Jersey 101.5 has requested copies of any dashboard, surveillance or other recording in law enforcement's possession, but been denied access to the materials as part of an ongoing investigation.

Della Fave's brief message Tuesday echoes a statement he made Sept. 1: "In our initial releases we presented preliminary basic facts regarding the time, place and identities of those involved. The investigation continues into the full circumstances of the shooting and into the possibility of existing video."

Authorities ask that anyone with information contact 732-929-2027.