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Prosecutor: Police shooting of two stepbrothers justified

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Thurston County Prosecutor announced that charges will not be filed against a police officer who shot two men in Olympia on May 21.

https://twitter.com/KIRO7Seattle/status/639187919568306176

Bryson Chaplin and Andre Thompson will be charged for assaulting Olympia police officer Ryan Donald.
In the decision that was announced at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Thurston County Prosecutor Jon Tunheim said no finding on his part pointed to race being a factor in the investigation.
He said that statements from the two stepbrothers were incomplete, and that the officer "acted in good faith and without malice."

Quick Facts:

  • Officer who shot two stepbrothers in Olympia will not face criminal charges
  • Stepbrothers, 21 and 24, shot by Olympia officer May 21
  • Officer was called to report of theft and assault at Safeway says he feared for his life
  • Stepbrothers' lawyer says they were trying to get away from officer
  • Shootings investigated by team of detectives

The shootings, which sparked protests that turned violent, were investigated by a team of detectives from several agencies since May. The findings were then handed over to the prosecutor's office.

Investigators say Chaplin and Thompson were offered a chance to make statements, but they did not participate.

Tunheim said it was “reasonable” for Officer Donald to shoot Andre Thompson, because Thompson was advancing on him.

https://twitter.com/KevinKIRO7/status/639190568422080512

Officer Ryan Donald shot stepbrothers Andre Thompson and Bryson Chaplin on Cooper Point Road while responding to a call of beer stolen and an employee assaulted at a nearby Safeway supermarket on May 21.

Tunheim said on Wednesday the shooting did not occur because of stealing beer, but because of the threat of assault when the officer approached the men.

A report obtained by KIRO 7 said Donald feared for his life.

Donald told investigators when he encountered the two men, Thompson, 24, grabbed him and started trying to overpower him while Chaplin, 21, came at him with a skateboard raised over his head.
The prosecutor believed the officer was at serious risk; he said the skateboard could have been used for deadly force under the legal definition. Tunheim says the shooting of the stepbrothers is consistent with officer's account.

“Basically he was holding me there so his friend could assault me with the skateboard,” Donald said in the report. Donald told investigators that's when he fired the first shots at Chaplin who ran away. He told investigators the two came back seconds later and that Thompson came at him.

“He was coming toward me again, I had no doubt in my mind that he was gonna try and hit me in the head with the skateboard.” Donald said he fired and 24-year-old Thompson went down.

https://twitter.com/KevinKIRO7/status/639190568422080512

Donald then claimed the unarmed Chaplin rushed toward him, angry that his stepbrother was wounded.
Donald said he fired and Chaplin fell to the pavement. Both men were wounded but survived.
Tunheim said no one was shot in the back.
David Beninger, the attorney for the stepbrothers, said the two never attacked the officer and were instead trying to get away from him.

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