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Weld County DA: No Charges For Police Officers In Deadly Shooting

GREELEY, Colo. (CBS4)- The Weld County District Attorney's Office has determined that two police officers who shot and killed a man near Greeley in January will not face criminal charges.

The report states that Michael Rodriguez, 39, pointed a nail gun at police outside Paradise Billards on 31st Street in Evans. Officers from LaSalle and Evans believed it was a firearm and shot him four times, eventually killing him.

Rodriguez's mother said she is surprised by the DA's decision.

Lollie Rios
Lollie Rios with a picture of her son, Michael Rodriguez (credit: CBS)

"Why did they have to shoot him?" asked Lollie Rios, Rodriguez's mother.

She said she still has many questions about what happened that night her son was killed.

"He was a family guy, hard worker, he was my only son but he always helped take care of me," said Rios.

Police were called to the bar and restaurant on Jan. 4 after a report that Rodriguez was threatening people with a gun and assaulting his girlfriend.

In a statement, the DA said charges will not be filed, "Because the officers reasonably believed it was necessary to defend themselves and others from Mr. Rodriguez's threatened use of deadly physical force."

"I'm in shock. I never expected this to happen to my son, got to get to the answers, why it happened to him," said Rios.

Rios said she and her attorney are still reviewing the DA's findings and would not comment on whether she will pursue legal action against the findings.

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