A teenager from Asia was killed in a shooting incident that was previously described by prosecutors as a “classic suicide of cop” last year. He had both his hands open and one of the pellet guns was held. New dashboard footage shows troopers opening fire. 

Christian Hall (19 years old) was of Chinese descent and was suffering from depression. State troopers were responding to a distressing man’s report on December 30th, when he stood on top of Route 33 southbound overpass.

Hall called 911 to alert authorities that there had been a suicider on the bridge.  

The redacted dashboard camera video footage that had been previously released by authorities and the unredacted one that Hall’s family sent to NBC News, Spotlight PA, this week, show that responding troopers tried initially to get the man to move down the overpass but he was armed and they retreated when they realized he was armed. 

Christian Hall, a 19-year-old man of Chinese descent, was shot dead by Pennsylvania State Police troopers during a 90-minute standoff on an overpass in December 2020

Christian Hall was a Chinese-American 19-year old man who was killed by Pennsylvania State Police officers during a standoff at an overpass. It took place in December 2020.

Hall was armed with a gun, which turned out to be a pellet gun (pictured in his left hand)

Hall was carrying a weapon, which turned out be a pellet gun. (Made in his left-hand).

An unredacted dashcam video released this week by Hall's family appears to show that Hall had his hands up when troopers opened fire, killing him

Hall’s family released an unredacted dashcam video this week, which appears to have shown that Hall was not in control of the situation when troopers shot at him. 

Hall collapsed in the middle of the bridge after being struck by three bullets fired from 70 feet away

Hall was struck with three bullets from 70 feet and fell in the middle section of the bridge. 

Hall's adoptive parents, Fe and Gareth Hall, are in the process of filing a federal lawsuit against the troopers who used deadly force on the teen

Fe and Gareth Hall are currently preparing a federal lawsuit to sue the troopers for using deadly force against Hall. 

Hall later discovered that his black, realistic looking firearm was actually a pellet gun. 

Redacted footage shows Hall reaching up in the air with one hand holding the gun and his left hand gripping the trigger. A trooper then fired the initial shots which missed Hall but hit the bridge. 

Hall was then struck by gunfire, and he fell to the ground. 

Attorneys representing Hall have obtained the full video from authorities via a subpoena. It appears that Hall raised his arms above his head 14 seconds into the last stage of the 90 minute standoff.

‘If he doesn’t drop it just take him,’ a voice is heard saying on the recording. 

Hall was still holding his hands when the troopers shot at him. Three rounds struck Hall and he died at the hospital from his injuries. 

The Pennsylvania State Police stated in its first press release addressing the fatal officer-involved shooting that after initially cooperating with the troopers and placing his gun on the ground, Hall later ‘became uncooperative and retrieved the firearm and began walking towards the troopers.’

Hall (pictured as a child, left) was adopted as a baby from China. His short life was marked by mental illness and several longs stints at juvenile detention

Hall was taken as a young child from China. A mental illness that lasted for many years and long stints in juvenile detention marked his short life. 

According to state police, the suspect pointed the gun at the officers and the shooter fired. But the new video raised questions about that agency’s account.  

In March of this year, the Monroe County district attorney’s office ruled that Hall’s shooting was justified. 

Michael Mancuso, first assistant district attorney in Monroe County, commended troopers for showing as much restraint as they did and characterized the fatal shooting as ‘a classic “suicide by cop’ scenario.”‘

According to Mancuso, Hall claimed that he was a former juvenile in prison and that he did not intend on returning. Hall’s juvenile probation officer repeatedly tried Hall on his cellphone during the standoff, Mancuso said.

One of the troopers who communicated with Hall has a master’s degree in clinical health psychology and worked in mental health before joining the state police, according to the DA’s office. Prosecutors stated that the trooper, who has 15 years’ experience as a crisis negotiator, took control.

On December 30, 2020, Hall called 911 to reported a 'possible suicider' on the southbound Route 33 overpass outside Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

On December 30, 2020, Hall called 911 to reported a ‘possible suicider’ on the southbound Route 33 overpass outside Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

Troopers tried to talk Hall down for 90 minutes, but they backed away after spotting a gun in his possession

For 90 minutes, Hall was being talked down by Troopers. But they gave up after finding a gun inside Hall’s hands. 

Authorities claimed that Hall became uncooperative and pointed the gun at troopers, but the unredacted video shows Hall with his hands up in his final moments

According to authorities, Hall became hostile and pointed the gun at troopers. But the redacted footage shows Hall in his last moments with both his hands raised. 

Troopers spent 90 minutes convincing Hall that he should give up the gun and surrender to them. They offered him food, drink, and a blanket. According to authorities, he approached them with what looked like a semiautomatic pistol in hand and they opened fire.  

According to the prosecution, Hall was about 70 feet away from the troopers when the shooting occurred. 

Devon Jacob and Ben Crump were civil rights attorneys who represented George Floyd’s family and currently represent Hall’s adoptive parent, Fe Hall.  

‘It’s a cry for help and unfortunately, instead of getting help, Christian got bullets. Crump stated that even after Christian put his hands up they still shot him during a March virtual press conference. ‘Once you see hands go up, that’s the universal sign of surrender. So why continue to shoot and kill a person who’s putting their hands up in surrender?’

Christian, a child of the Halls from China in 2002 was adopted by them. When he was a baby, he was diagnosed having a severe mental disorder. 

'If he doesn’t drop it just take him,' a voice can be heard saying on the recording before gunfire erupts

‘If he doesn’t drop it just take him,’ a voice can be heard saying on the recording before gunfire erupts

Hall was a frequent fugitive from his home. At age 10, he ended up being placed in juvenile detention for accidentally setting a flame while playing with matches. 

Hall ran away after being released from prison four years later. The next five years would see Hall spend his time in out-of-juvenile facilities.

Hall had been living with his parents back in Pocono mountain in December 2020. He failed to report to work at the grocery store on the day of New Year’s Eve and headed for the Stroudsburg bridge, where he was met by an avalanche of bullets. 

Families are currently preparing federal civil rights lawsuits against state troopers involved in the shooting of the victim.   

Hall's parents want the state attorney general's office to conduct an independent investigation into the shooting

Hall’s parents ask the state attorney General’s office for an independent investigation of the shooting.

Family lawyers claimed that Hall held the gun while holding it in his hand, and therefore did not pose an immediate threat which would justify the use deadly force.

‘At the moment the officers decided to use force, the way in which he presented with his hands up, gun pointed in the air, not moving, there was no deadly threat at that moment — especially at 70 feet — that required that he be shot, let alone killed,’ Jacob said.

He asserted the use-of-force investigation should have been conducted by the state attorney general’s office, saying the Monroe County DA’s office had shown bias in its probe. Jacob said that troopers could also have used non-lethal methods to neutralize Hall.

Monroe County Prosecutor Mancuso stated earlier in the year to The Associated Press that his office is standing by its investigations.

‘The attorney’s new claims and basis for challenging the findings of my office are no doubt of a desperate character in an attempt to regain the credibility he lost as a result of his false narrative over the last few months,’ Mancuso said in an email.

Renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represented George Floyd's family, is now representing Hall's family

Ben Crump, a renowned civil rights attorney, represented George Floyd’s families. He is currently representing Hall’s. 

E. David Christine Jr, Monroe County District Attorney, released a statement Wednesday to NBC, Spotlight PA. It reiterated its belief that Hall was shot without justification.

Christian’s mother Fe Hall told The Outlet that her son’s race was a factor in the troopers’ decision not to shoot him.

‘I feel that Asians are generalized as the quiet ones, they’re not going to fight back,’ Fe said. Is it possible they saw Christian as Chinese when they shot him? He doesn’t matter. His family will not say anything. He is going to let it go.