RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) - A Vermont state’s attorney has ruled state troopers were justified in fatally shooting a standoff suspect last fall.
Rutland County State’s Attorney Rose Kennedy said Tuesday the conclusion came after an independent review. WCAX-TV reports 32-year-old Michael Battles, of Poultney, died on Sept. 1 after being shot in the head by trooper Eric Vitali.
Four other troopers - Sgt. Lyle Decker, Michael Anderson, Christopher Brown and Matthew Cannon - also opened fire. The officers say Battles pointed a gun at them, which was later determined to be a BB gun.
Kennedy says she agreed the troopers had no way to identify it as such at the time.
The state’s attorney says that there was no body camera footage that documented the fatal shot.
The troopers have returned to active duty.
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Information from: WCAX-TV, http://www.wcax.com
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