“After careful review of all available evidence … not enough admissible evidence to present criminal accusations in this case,” according to the District Attorney and State Attorney general released Wednesday.
When Locke was shot, he was in law possession of firearms, in the apartment, according to prosecutorsbut they said it was irrelevant to the investigation. According to a statement from the prosecutors, Locke’s actions after breaking into the officers’ apartment”on the court-sanctioned search warrant” was a “specifically formulated threat”.
“These circumstances are such that an objectively reasonable officer in Officer (Mark) Hanneman’s position would have been perceived as an immediate threat. of death or great bodily injury that could reasonably be expected to occur and an objectively reasonable officer would not delay in using deadly forceAttorney General Keith Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Michael Freeman said in a statement.
Jeff Storms, Attorney for Locke’s family said it was “a disappointing day for in family.”
“They are just have a very strong belief that the unbelievable wrong what happened to Amir is going to save other people’s lives,” Storms told CNN. – They will not tolerate lack of criminal charges slow them down down one slice.”
Locke mother said he works as a food delivery man driver and had gun for protection. She told her son cremated because she didn’t want her sonx remains stay in Minneapolis.
“You thought that I would bury my son in Earth of in place what killed him? No, wherever I go, my baby is going. I do not live in sister cities. I left sister cities. I took my son with me when i left sister cities,” said Karen Wells.
Police Federation of Minneapolis praised prosecutors’decision saying that Hanneman was’faced with but deadly threat, and he had to disperse.decision decision”To protect yourself and others.
This added:” use of deadly force an officer is never taken lightly and weighs heavily on involved officers. This incident was a tragedy for all participants and will have a long-term impact on many lives”.
In the video they released, you can see the officer quietly sliding down the key at the apartment door. After the door opens, group of Officers enter, shouting commands. After the police entered the apartment, Locke looked around. over in back of sofa, dived down under the covers, lowered the gun and then raised it towards the officer who then shot him three times, according to a statement from prosecutors announcing their decision.
During news conference on Wednesday, Allison and Freeman said they met with Locke family in in the morning to let them know of them decision.
“We expressed our personal sympathies and empathy with in family”said Freeman. “They, like us very upset with no strike warrants.
Hanneman, officer who shot Locke, was wearing but body-worn out camera and submitted a written statement to the investigators.
“I felt in this moment, what if I didn’t use deadly force myself, I would probably have been killed,” he wrote. – It was not possible for should I change position or retreat. Did not have way for me to defuse the situation. Threat to my life and life of my teammates were inevitable and terrible.”
Hanneman returned to active duty on February 28, less than a month after Locke was shot, city a spokesman told CNN on Wednesday. “Officer Hanneman was assigned to role that suits the needs of department and its service to the city of Minneapolis. This assignment does not include special forces,” the spokesman said.
Allison noted that office not allowed to assess the case “from the point of view of of victim” and that it would be “unethical” to bring charges in a case that cannot be won because the law does not support criminal accusations.
In their statement, Freeman and Ellison said that Locke could have been alive today “had it not been for the exercising order to stop knocking.” in this matter.” But they also told them role in this investigation should not have assessed use of warrant – he had to look at killing determine whether criminal the charges were justified.
Storms said family yet plans to move forward with civil suit and absence of criminal fees “do not affect” on this plan.
“I will add that, no detonation warrants are not particularly safe for the officers either. They have associated risks on both sides, civilians and officers, so it’s appropriate to investigate and come up with policy it works,” Ellison said at a press conference.
Rebecca Riess and Jennifer Henderson of CNN contributed to this report.
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