NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - A prosecutor in Virginia has concluded that a police officer was justified in shooting a 15-year-old boy last year because the teen had charged the officer with a knife.
Citing a letter from Commonwealth’s Attorney Greg Underwood, The Virginian-Pilot reports that Norfolk officers Christopher Kiene and Ashlea Pittman went to an apartment on July 20, 2016 because the 15-year-old had stabbed his mother and was threatening to burn down the building.
Underwood says that as the officers entered the building, the teen rushed out of a doorway and charged Kiene. He says the boy ignored commands from Kiene to stop, so the officer shot him.
Underwood says Kiene acted in self-defense and won’t be charged.
The teen survived the shooting. He has since been committed to a psychiatric treatment program.
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Information from: The Virginian-Pilot, https://pilotonline.com
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