Prosecutor Says Fatal Officer Involved Shooting Was Justified

The Yakima County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office completed its review of the investigative reports for the Officer Casey Gillette officer involved shooting which resulted in the death of Rocendo Arias.    Based upon the information provided, Officer Gillette responded to a perceived threat of injury or death when Arias pointed what appeared to be a handgun at Gillette.  Accordingly, Officer Gillette was justified in the use of deadly force under the circumstances as perceived at that time.

Yakima County Prosecutor Jim Hagarty issued a short press release today "RCW 9A.16.040 permits the use of deadly force in situations where the circumstances indicate a person poses a  threat of physical harm or death by threatening an officer with a weapon or displays a weapon in a manner which could reasonably be construed as threatening.  The shooting took place outside a car wash on east Nob Hill in the early morning hours of January 4th.