Duluth Officers Cleared In Fatal Shooting

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) — Two Duluth police officers have been cleared of any wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of a suspect.

WDIO-TV reports the St. Louis County Attorney's Office determined the officers were justified in using deadly force.

Officers Matthew Hendrickson and Jacob Peterson shot and killed 26-year-old Zachary Premo June 11. Police said Premo was reaching for a gun as the officers tried to take him into custody.

Both officers were placed on paid administrative leave, but have since returned to work.

The report reveals that Premo's gun was unloaded. But Duluth Police Chief Gordon Ramsay says the officers had no way of knowing that.

An attorney for Premo's family tells the Duluth News Tribune the family still considers Premo's death "useless and tragic."

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