City of Austin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASERelease Date:
Contact: Public Information Office 512-974-5017 Email
Case: 20-1070076
Date: Thursday, April 16, 2020
Time: 2:05 a.m.
Location: 500 block E. 7th St.
Deceased: Brian Hoff, White male, (DOB: 07/05/1969)
Arrested: Robert Jake Fitzgerald, White male, 31 years of age
On Thursday, April 16, 2020, at approximately 2:05 a.m., the Austin Police Department's High Activity Location Observation (APD HALO program) observed two men involved in a disturbance with each other. HALO uses video cameras to monitor and detect criminal activity.
One of the men, later identified as 31-year-old Robert Fitzgerald, chased after the other man, later identified as 50-year-old Brian Hoff. Fitzgerald struck Hoff with his hand, and Hoff was knocked unconscious upon impact with the street. Fitzgerald then walked away toward Red River St., offering no medical assistance to Hoff. People in the area pulled Hoff out of the street and onto the sidewalk, to prevent him from obtaining further injuries.
Austin-Travis County EMS and police arrived on scene. Hoff, who remained unconscious, was transported to a local hospital in serious condition. Fitzgerald was later located and arrested for aggravated assault with serious bodily injury. HALO cameras recorded the entire incident.
On Saturday, April 18, 2020, at 5:15 p.m., Brian Hoff died as a result of his injuries.
On Monday, April 20, 2020, the medical examiner ruled that the cause of death was from blunt head trauma and the manner of death was homicide.
Homicide detectives will be consulting with the Travis County District Attorney’s office on changing Fitzgerald’s charge to manslaughter.
Detectives are asking anyone with video or information about this incident to call Crime Stoppers at 512-974-TIPS or use the new Crime Stoppers App or email APD Homicide at homicide.apd@austintexas.gov. You may remain anonymous. You can also submit tips by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, free on iPhone and Android.
Robert Jake Fitzgerald booking photo: