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Prosecutors Clear Westminster Officer In Deadly Shooting

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (AP) - Prosecutors say criminal charges will not be brought against a Westminster police officer in the deadly shooting of a 27-year-old Nepalese man who was unarmed.

The Denver Post reports Adams County District Attorney Dave Young cleared the Westminster police officer of wrongdoing in the Aug. 25 shooting of Birendra Thakuri.

According Young's letter released Thursday, Thakuri attacked the officer three times before he fired one shot, striking Thakuri in the chest.

The letter states the officer was in "fear of either being seriously injured or that the males would be able to take his gun and shoot him" as Thakuri and his brother approached him.

Thakuri's family released a statement through their attorney, saying the officer should have used less-than-lethal measures.

(© Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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