No prison fees can be filed in reference to the demise of Amir Locke, Hennepin County Lawyer Michael Freeman and Minnesota Lawyer Basic Keith Ellisonintroduced Wednesday.

Locke, a 22-year-old Black man, was fatally shot by law enforcement officials who have been executing a "no-knock" warrant in Minneapolis in February. The announcement Wednesday stated that "there's inadequate admissible proof to file prison fees on this case."

"Particularly, the State can be unable to disprove past an affordable doubt any of the weather of Minnesota's use-of-deadly-force statute that authorizes using drive by Officer [Mark] Hanneman," the announcement stated, referring to the officer who fatally shot Locke. "Nor would the State be capable of show past an affordable doubt a prison cost in opposition to every other officer concerned within the decision-making that led to the demise of Amir Locke."

The circumstances of Locke's demise sparked outrage, questions and protests all through the U.S., particularly after it emerged that he was not the goal of the no-knock warrant. Locke's mom, Karen Wells, stated in February that her son was sleeping over at his cousin's house on the night time of his demise.

Physique digital camera footage launched after the capturing confirmed officers getting into the condominium with out knocking after which shouting that they have been conducting a search warrant. Locke was wrapped in a blanket on a settee and emerged holding a pistol. Three photographs have been heard earlier than the tip of the video, Newsweek beforehand reported.

Solely about 9 seconds handed between the opening of the door and the capturing.

No Amir Locke Charges
No prison fees can be filed in reference to the demise of Amir Locke, Hennepin County Lawyer Michael Freeman and Minnesota Lawyer Basic Keith Ellison introduced Wednesday. Above, Locke's image is seen throughout a heavy snowstorm at George Floyd Sq. in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on February 22, 2022.Kerem Yucel/AFP by way of Getty Photos

The Wednesday announcement that no prison fees can be filed in his case known as Locke's demise a "tragedy" and stated that he "ought to be alive at the moment."

"Amir Locke is a sufferer. This tragedy could not have occurred absent the no-knock warrant used on this case," the announcement stated. "County Lawyer Freeman and Lawyer Basic Ellison met with the Locke household this morning and as soon as once more ship their deepest condolences to them throughout this extremely troublesome time."

It famous that officers are permitted beneath Minnesota regulation to make use of lethal drive in sure circumstances whereas within the line of obligation, comparable to when an "objectively affordable officer" believes that it's obligatory with a purpose to shield him or herself or one other officer from demise or nice bodily hurt.

When Locke held out a firearm "pointed within the route of a minimum of one officer," this constituted a "particularly articulable menace," the discover stated.

"Officer Hanneman perceived that Mr. Locke's actions and manufacturing of a firearm offered a menace of demise or nice bodily hurt that was moderately prone to happen and to which the officers needed to reply directly," it stated.

It added that the choice on whether or not or to not file fees was not based mostly on the appropriateness of utilizing a no-knock warrant within the scenario, however on whether or not there was sufficient proof to again a prison cost.

"Underneath present regulation—and as terrible because the circumstances of this tragedy are—there's not ample admissible proof to help a prison cost," the discover concluded.

Attorneys Ben Crump, Jeff Storms and Antonio Romanucci stated in a joint assertion shared with Newsweek that Locke's household is "deeply disillusioned by the choice to not criminally cost Minneapolis Police Officer Mark Hanneman."

"The household and its authorized workforce are firmly dedicated to their continued struggle for justice within the civil court docket system, in fiercely advocating for the passage of native and nationwide laws, and taking each different step obligatory to make sure accountability for all these answerable for needlessly chopping Amir's life far too quick," the assertion learn. "At the moment solely deepens the resolve of Amir's household and its authorized workforce."

Replace 4/6/22, 1:25 p.m. ET: This story was up to date with remark from attorneys Ben Crump, Jeff Storms and Antonio Romanucci.