Austin Police have arrested a man after he allegedly hit another man in the head, resulting in the man’s death.
Last Thursday, April 16, 2020, at approximately 2:05 a.m., the Austin Police Department’s video surveillance observed two men involved in a disturbance with each other.
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, according to an APD news release.
“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,” police said.
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.
APD say they have the entire incident on video. Hoff died two days later, on the evening of Saturday, April 18.
On Monday, the medical examiner ruled that the cause of death was from blunt head trauma and the manner of death was homicide.
Though Hoff is being held on an aggravated assault charge, Austin Police say they are consulting with the District Attorney’s office to change that charge to manslaughter.
