https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...e-black-man-killed-no-knock-warrant-rcna23233
No charges will be filed in the death of Amir Locke, a Black 22-year-old man shot by a SWAT team officer during a no-knock warrant raid in Minneapolis in February, officials announced Wednesday.
Hennepin County Attorney Michael Freeman and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement they are declining to file criminal charges in his death.
The officials said they determined that after a “thorough review,” "there is insufficient admissible evidence to file criminal charges in this case.”
Amir Locke’s mother, Karen Wells, said Wednesday afternoon after the decision was announced, "I am not disappointed — I am disgusted with the city of Minneapolis."
the state would be unable to disprove “beyond a reasonable doubt" elements of Minnesota’s use-of-deadly-force statute that would have authorized use of force by Mark Hanneman, the officer who shot Locke.
The attorneys also said the state would be unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt a criminal charge against any other officer involved in the “decision-making that led to the death of Amir Locke.”
Locke was killed on Feb. 2 after officers stormed into the apartment he was in and found him on the couch covered in a blanket. Minneapolis police said the officer opened fire after seeing the barrel of a gun come into view from under the blanket.
Locke was shot three times in the incident.
The attorneys explained that under Minnesota law, peace officers are authorized to use deadly force while in the line of duty to protect other officers or another from death or great bodily harm.
They said during a news conference after the announcement that Locke's hand was seen holding a firearm, though his finger was not on the trigger, and at one point it was pointed directly at Hanneman.
In the statement, the officials said Hanneman perceived the movements as a threat of death or great bodily harm.
His death once again rocked the city of Minneapolis, nearly two years after the death of George Floyd by then Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin.
No charges will be filed in the death of Amir Locke, a Black 22-year-old man shot by a SWAT team officer during a no-knock warrant raid in Minneapolis in February, officials announced Wednesday.
Hennepin County Attorney Michael Freeman and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement they are declining to file criminal charges in his death.
The officials said they determined that after a “thorough review,” "there is insufficient admissible evidence to file criminal charges in this case.”
Amir Locke’s mother, Karen Wells, said Wednesday afternoon after the decision was announced, "I am not disappointed — I am disgusted with the city of Minneapolis."
the state would be unable to disprove “beyond a reasonable doubt" elements of Minnesota’s use-of-deadly-force statute that would have authorized use of force by Mark Hanneman, the officer who shot Locke.
The attorneys also said the state would be unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt a criminal charge against any other officer involved in the “decision-making that led to the death of Amir Locke.”
Locke was killed on Feb. 2 after officers stormed into the apartment he was in and found him on the couch covered in a blanket. Minneapolis police said the officer opened fire after seeing the barrel of a gun come into view from under the blanket.
Locke was shot three times in the incident.
The attorneys explained that under Minnesota law, peace officers are authorized to use deadly force while in the line of duty to protect other officers or another from death or great bodily harm.
They said during a news conference after the announcement that Locke's hand was seen holding a firearm, though his finger was not on the trigger, and at one point it was pointed directly at Hanneman.
In the statement, the officials said Hanneman perceived the movements as a threat of death or great bodily harm.
His death once again rocked the city of Minneapolis, nearly two years after the death of George Floyd by then Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin.
