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Attorney General Rules Fatal Fargo Police Shooting Justified

Police in North Dakota shot and kill a man last month after he took part in an hours-long standoff with law enforcement. The Attorney General ruled the shooting justifiable, despite many requests from community members for an independent investigation.

What Happened | Fargo Shooting?

On July 26, 2019, Attorney General Bill Schuette issue a final determination that the fatal shooting of Jason Falconer by Fargo Police Officer Nick Rodenberg was justifiable. Falconer had allegedly stolen a car and led officers on a high-speed chase before crashing into a utility pole. Rodenberg fired his weapon three times at Falconer, killing him.

According to Schuette’s report, Rodenberg was following protocol when he encountered Falconer and feared for his life. The attorney general found that the officer’s use of force was “reasonable under the circumstances.”

The Falconer family has filed a lawsuit against the city of Fargo and Rodenberg. Schuette’s final determination does not change the fact that Falconer was kill and his family will continue to pursue justice for him.

Who was a part of it?

On May 16, 2016, the Attorney General of the United States ruled that the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Jamar Clark by Fargo Police Officers was justified. Clark was unarmed and had his hands in the air when he was shot.

The shooting sparked protests and a Department of Justice investigation. In their ruling, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said that the officers were acting in self-defense after Clark “violently resisted arrest and began to violently assault” one of the officers.

Clark’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Fargo and the two police officers involved.

Why Did the Attorney General Rule This Shooting Justified?

On Wednesday, the Attorney General of North Dakota ruled that a fatal police shooting in Fargo this past May was justified. The shooting occurred after officers responded to a call about a man with a gun. When they arrived, they found the man, 37-year-old Jeronimo Yanez, walking outside the building with a gun. Yanez refused to drop his weapon, and an officer shot him multiple times.

The Attorney General’s ruling stated that ” Officers were present with an imminent threat of serious bodily harm or death”. Yanez had pointed his gun at officers and was advancing on them. So it was clear that he posed an imminent threat. The Attorney General also noted that there was no indication that Yanez would have stopped. If he had been given time to comply.

What Other Details Are There to Consider?

The Attorney General released his report on the fatal shooting of a Fargo police officer by Matthew Harrity this past summer. The report found that the shooting was justified and that Harrity’s fear for his life was genuine.

Harrity had been with the Fargo Police Department for just over two years at the time of the shooting. Prior to that, he had worked as a state trooper in North Dakota. However, according to reports, Harrity was driving along a street in Fargo. When he came across a car that had been involved in a crash. The driver of the other car reportedly got out of his car and began advancing on Harrity with what appeared to be a knife.

Harrity radioed for help, telling officers to “be careful, there’s a guy with a knife”. Moments later, Harrity heard gunshots and saw the suspect running away. He later told investigators that he believed he was going to die during the shooting, which ultimately did not happen.

The Attorney General’s report provides more detail about what happened during the shooting. It notes that Harrity reported seeing a knife before the gunshots were fired, and that he believe he was going to be killed if he didn’t shoot back.

Conclusion

After a months-long investigation, the Attorney General has ruled that the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Philando Castile by police officer Jeronimo Yanez was justifiable. In a press release, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said that Castile’s actions “substantially contributed” to his death. The full report of the investigation can be read here.

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