Douglas County DA won’t file charges against officers who shot, killed murder suspect
The Douglas County District Attorney will not file charges against the officers who shot and killed a murder suspect after a police chase that ended in Lawrence in June, according to a news release.
The suspect exchanged gunfire with Kansas Highway Patrol troopers and an officer from the University of Kansas Public Safety Office after a chase, which started near Lake Perry in northeast Kansas, ended at 19th and Massachusetts streets in Lawrence.
At the time police said the suspect, Nicholas Hirsh, was being sought by the highway patrol and by the U.S. Marshals. He was wanted in connection to an Omaha homicide, the news release said.
District Attorney Charles Branson chose not to file charges against officers in the case because “there is ample evidence” indicating that it would be reasonable for officers to think their use of force was necessary to protect themselves.
Video evidence, damage to a patrol vehicle and eyewitness testimony, the news release said, indicates that Hirsh fired the first shots and was aiming at officers.
Under Kansas law, police are authorized to use deadly force if they think it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to themselves or another person.
This story was originally published August 19, 2020 at 2:44 PM.
