Court: Keene officers were justified in shooting death

[Silent_Bob]

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120511/NEWS03/120519961

CONCORD - The New Hampshire Attorney General's office says a Keene police officer was justified in the shooting death of a man who was fleeing the scene of a burglary last month.

According to a report released Friday, two officers who fired their weapons while pursuing Julio Angel DeJesus were justified in doing so because they "reasonably believed that they and others were in danger of death or serious bodily injury."

DeJesus, 35, had a long criminal history and was released on parole from the New Hampshire State Prison in January. DeJesus sped away from the parking lot in a stolen Mercedes when officers answered the burglary call, then led Keene Police Officer James Lamoureux on a high-speed chase through city streets.

Investigators say DeJesus stopped the Mercedes and got out, but ran back to the vehicle and accelerated quickly toward Lamoureux.

According to the report, Lamoureux fired at DeJesus and struck him once.

Lamoureux told investigators from the State Police Major Crime Unit and Attorney General's office that DeJesus repeatedly ignored orders to stop and show his hands. Lamoureux said he fired his weapon because he believed DeJesus was trying to run him over when he gunned the engine, spinning the tires as the car rushed toward Lamoureux.

Keene Lt. Eli Rivera also had arrived at the scene and fired at the front passenger tire, saying he did not aim for the driver because he felt Lamoureux also was in danger of being hit.

Lamoureux jumped out of the way of the car as it sped toward Marlboro Street, which intersects with Main Street where there were a large number of pedestrians and cars.

Lamoureux and Rivera told investigators they believed the public was in danger and both opened fire on the car, which crashed into a utility pole. DeJesus got out of the vehicle, but collapsed as officers approached to handcuff him. An officer with EMT training began treating DeJesus, but he died at the scene.

Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Andrew ruled DeJesus died of a single gunshot wound to the neck. Based on the trajectory, investigators concluded Lamoureux fired the fatal shot.

[Russell Kanning]

if there were other people around I would guess shooting a gun could be dangerous

[KBCraig]

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120511/NEWS03/120519961

CONCORD - The New Hampshire Attorney General's office says a Keene police officer was justified in the shooting death of a man who was fleeing the scene of a burglary last month.

<-----my shocked face