No Criminal Charges For Hillsborough Cop Who Fatally Shot Sword-Wielding Man

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — A state grand jury has declined to file criminal charges against a Hillsborough Police Officer who shot and killed a sword-wielding township man 1 and a half years ago, the Office of the Attorney General announced Wednesday.

According to the investigation, uniformed Hillsborough Township Police Officers went to 43-year-old Patrick Chin's home on Piedmont Path at around 4:10 p.m. on Sept. 28, 2021, in response to a welfare check on Chin.

Chin was found inside the home wielding an approximately three-foot-long sword. Officers gave repeated commands to drop the sword but Chin refused to comply, according to authorities.

Chin had self-inflicted wounds from a sharp object and Officers used OC spray to try to disarm Chin, which was unsuccessful, according to authorities.

"Instead, Chin charged at [Officer] Kokinakous with the sword. In response, [Officer] Kokinakous discharged his weapon four times, striking Chin," according to the OAG. Read More: Sword-Wielding Man Fatally Shot By Hillsborough Police ID'D

After hearing the testimony and evidence, the grand jury concluded its deliberations Monday, Feb. 13, and voted "no bill," meaning the grand jury concluded no criminal charges should be filed against Hillsborough Police Officer George Kokinakous.

The investigation included interviews of witnesses, collection of forensic evidence, review of motor vehicle recording footage, and autopsy results from the medical examiner. This evidence, including audio of the incident, as well as video interviews of the involved officers and other eyewitnesses when available, is presented to the grand jury, according to the OAG.

The Hillsborough Police Department was not equipped with body-worn cameras (BWC) at the time of this incident and there is no body-camera footage or other video footage that captures the actual shooting. Officer Kokinakous had the microphone for his vehicle’s MVR on his person at the time of the incident and audio was captured. The video and audio was previously released. Read More: Intense Audio, Video Shared In Hillsborough Fatal Police Shooting

Officers rendered medical aid until emergency medical personnel arrived. Chin was pronounced dead at around 5:28 p.m.

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