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DA: Kenosha police use of force justified
A Kenosha police officer who shot a suspect after an hours-long standoff was justified in his actions, prosecutors ruled this week.
KENOSHA, Wis. - A Kenosha police officer who shot a suspect after an hours-long standoff was justified in his actions, prosecutors ruled this week.
Kenosha police shooting
The backstory:
Kenosha police responded to a domestic violence-related call on the night of May 4. The suspect, 35-year-old Andres Casas, had fled the scene but was found a short time later at a home near 50th Street and 14th Avenue.
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While officers tried to take Casas into custody, police said he shot at them. That led to a standoff that lasted nearly eight hours until Casas came out of a window. As officers tried again to take him into custody, one officer shot and wounded Casas.
Casas was taken to a hospital, and a gun was recovered from the yard where he was arrested. The officer involved was placed on administrative leave. No officers were shot during the incident.
Scene near 50th and 14th, Kenosha
Use-of-force investigation
Dig deeper:
The Racine County Sheriff's Office led the use-of-force investigation. In a letter dated Nov. 2, Kenosha County District Attorney Xavier Solis identified the officer as Michael O'Neil. Solis concluded that O'Neil's "use of deadly force was lawful and justified."
Solis said the investigation determined Casas locked himself inside a home when officers came to arrest him and fired three-to-four shots "almost immediately" after officers forced their way inside. The officers described seeing smoke and a gun barrel pointed at them. Additional gunshots came from the home throughout the hours-long standoff.
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When Casas left the home, investigators said he had a gun in his hand. Solis found O'Neil ordered Casas to drop the gun, but Casas refused. Body-worn cameras showed officers used less-lethal bean bags and a Taser to try to take Casas into custody before O'Neil fired a single shot and hit Casas.
Casas charged
In court:
The Kenosha County District Attorney's Office charged Casas with seven felonies, including five counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, and a misdemeanor. Court records show he pleaded not guilty and was bound over for trial in August. He's due back in court in January.
The Source: Information in this story is from the Kenosha County District Attorney's Office, the Racine County Sheriff's Office and Kenosha Police Department. FOX6 News was at the scene of the shooting and standoff in May.