An officer-Involved Shooting in South Bend which claimed the life of a homeless man has been Deemed Justified by the St. Joseph County Prosecutor, though an internal investigation by the South Bend Police Department is underway.

It was back on June 11th at LaSalle and Niles Avenue when 69-year-old John Neiswender was shot and killed by South Bend police officers after threatening them with a knife.

The homeless man had reportedly threatened others and damaged a vehicle with a knife. When officers arrived, Neiswender threatened to kill them.

Despite multiple attempts to de-escalate the situation with non-lethal means, the St. Joseph County Prosecutor said one officer was forced to fire his weapon due to the immient threat to personal and public safety.