Officers Cleared in Shooting of Wyoming Man Holding Hatchet
ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. (AP) — Prosecutors say no charges will be filed against police officers after they shot a 26-year-old man wielding a hatchet in Rock Springs last week.
Sweetwater County Attorney Daniel Erramouspe says in a statement Monday that officers' use of force was justified and they had "no other choice in their actions."
Officers from the Rock Springs Police Department and Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office responded to a gas station to a report of a man striking vehicles with a hatchet.
Prosecutors say Austin Pacheco refused to drop the weapon and was about to throw the hatchet at an officer.
He was shot with bean bag ammunition and one shot from a handgun.
He remains in the hospital. His medical status wasn't released.