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Ramsey Co. Attorney Rules Shooting By St. Paul Officer Justified

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Ramsey County Attorney's Office has determined a fatal shooting by a St. Paul police officer was justified.

A memo from the attorney's office says there is significant physical, DNA and ballistics evidence that shows Eugene Smith III pointed and fired a shotgun at Joshua Raichert after the officer entered a bedroom at a St. Paul home May 26.

The memo states Raichert's use of deadly force was "objectively reasonable" under the circumstances.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press  reports a woman with Smith when he was killed told the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension that he was a methamphetamine dealer, and toxicology testing showed methamphetamine and amphetamine in his system.

(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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