Phoenix police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a former Somali refugee with a mental health issue will not face state charges.
Last September, Ali Osman threw rocks that Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said pierced the metal hood of a patrol vehicle and broke a police spotlight.
At a news conference Wednesday, Mitchell said the officers’ decision to shoot Osman was reasonable based on state law.
“The river rocks being thrown by Mr. Osman on that day posed a serious threat to every motorist and pedestrian in that area,” said Mitchell.
Osman’s family sued Phoenix in February alleging that the city has systematically failed to train, supervise and manage its Police Department, which remains under federal investigation.
