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Two Austin police officers have been cleared in a use-of-force case from 2018 involving a man who broke into the home of a pair of well known YouTube personalities in Hyde Park. According to Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore, further review of the case found the officers’ actions were justified
On the night of January 28, 2018, officers Matthew Jackson and Stephen Abbott were dispatched to a home on Avenue G regarding a call about a man who had broken in and started firing a gun. The man and woman who lived in the home hid in the closet during the incident.
Officers Jackson and Abbott parked a few houses down from the home and approached on foot. As they got close, they spotted Christopher Giles getting into a black Cadillac in the driveway, attempting to drive away.
According to a statement from Moore’s office, moments later, a gunshot was heard from the car and Officer Jackson returned fire three times, striking. Giles was found dead in his car but despite being struck by Jackson’s rounds, it was later determined he’d taken his own life.
In this case the District Attorney’s Office has determined that the use use of deadly force was justified, and the case will not be turned over to a grand jury.
