Prosecutor Says Officer Justified In June Fatal Shooting

A Yakima Police officer who shot a man during a domestic dispute call at a West Valley home in June was justified in the shooting according to the Yakima County Prosecutors office. Before Yakima County Prosecutor Joe Brusic ruled in the case a police investigation found officer Brad Althauser was justified in the June 10 fatal shooting of Juan Briseno-Ortega. Authorities say the officer responded to the home after a call of domestic violence. The officer told investigators Briseno-Ortega had a handgun hidden in his waistband and that he refused to comply with orders from the officer to keep his hands away from the gun. The officer shot Briseno-Ortega as he was reaching for the weapon. And now Yakima County Prosecutor Joe Brusic says the officer was justified in the shooting.