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Family Outraged After Officers Not Indicted In Fatal Shooting

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Video released of a police-involved shooting show the tense moments between officers and 45-year-old Michael Kirvelay.

He was shot by officers after taking his sister hostage inside his family's business in Columbia Heights last November.

An Anoka County grand jury cleared officers of any charges, but the family says their fight for justice is not over.

Michael can be heard on police body camera video telling officers he was scared.

"I'm telling you now no one is in any danger," he said in police body cam video.

Michael Kirvelay
Michael Kirvelay (credit: CBS)

Officers can be heard trying to get him to give up his weapon and surrender.

"I can't come over there until you put down whatever it is you have down on the floor," said Michael to officers.

Bill Kirvelay, Michael's brother, says he is disappointed by the grand jury's decision and the justice system.

He says he believes the officers involved in the shooting that killed his brother should be prosecuted, but an Anoka County Grand jury thought different. It made a finding of "No Bill" in regards to charges.

"A man on his knees begging for his life, saying that he was scared," Bill said.

He says his brother was having a mental health crisis, but investigators say they learned later he was under in the influence of methamphetamine and was acting erratically and irrationally.

"It's wrongful death, and we plan to file a civil rights lawsuit to get justice for his family, his son," Bill said.

He says his family will not stop fighting for justice and will continue to speak out.

The weapon Michael was holding ending up being a BB gun, but police say they thought it was real.

Columbia Heights and Fridley police departments are pouring through the newly-released video as part of their internal investigations.

Both will look to see if the officers involved in the shooting followed policy and procedure.

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