The St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office has said no criminal charges will be filed in the police-involved shooting of Dante Kittrell.
The shooting, on the property of Coquillard School last month, has been ruled a justifiable homicide.
Prosecutors say there was no evidence to suggest that responding officers knew or could have known that the firearm Kittrell possessed was not a real handgun. They also stated that they could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers weren’t acting in self-defense or the defense of others.
Their timeline shows that officers spoke with Kittrell for roughly 45 minutes before he raised his weapon at them, prompting the shooting by the police.
8 comments
I hope this final decision doesn’t create more division and violence.
I always wondered why a person could hold anything, a toy, a phone, a beer, anything, and the cops would unload all their guns on the guy and claim they thought it was a gun. I also wonder why if one cop shoots, they all shoot, as if the perp has to be shot 87 times or else they won’t be stopping him!
Tragic what was he holding? Are there any pictures? Was it a replica gun??
It was PROVEN by the dash & body cams it was a real gun. Kittrell said it was a gun, the issue is w/the media & social media releasing false statement and not waiting until the investigation is completed. Please get the facts before posting.
It doesn’t matter what you are holding, when a cop says drop it you drop it!
And yes, when human beings who are engaged with an armed individual hear gunshots they are probably going to shoot out of reflex. I’m not sure why that is so astonishing, but cops are human beings too so it makes sense. They will also shoot until the threat is neutralized, as would any sane person.
Suicide by cop – period!
It was an airsoft pistol replica of a Glock. There is no way to tell if it was a real gun or an airsoft unless you hold it in your hands and examine it.
Looks like suicide by cop given the dash and body cam footage.
Point a gun or what looks like a gun at a cop you get what you deserve. He got what he wanted. Its a win for all sides.