The Bingham County Prosecuting Attorney's Office announced it will not be filing any charges in the officer-involved shooting that led to the death of Pocatello resident Laurence McClellan. The following press release was issued today:

Bingham County Prosecuting Attorney Cleve Colson announced today that no criminal charges will be filed against any law enforcement officers for the officer-involved shooting that led to the death of Laurence McClellan in Pocatello, Idaho on Dec. 22, 2017. 

"I have concluded that the shooting was a justified use of deadly force necessitated by the threat Mr. Laurence McClellan posed to a Bannock County Deputy and a Pocatello Police Officer and the public," Bingham County Prosecuting Attorney Cleve Colson said.

Bannock County Prosecuting Attorney Steve Herzog requested the assistance of the Bingham County Prosecuting Attorney Cleve Colson to evaluate the incident to decide whether criminal charges were warranted. This request was due to the fact that Bannock County deputies were involved in the circumstances described below. Pursuant to that request, the Bingham County Prosecutor's Office received a detailed report of the incident from the Bingham County/City of Blackfoot Joint Detective Division, assigned to the investigation. 

The Bingham County/City of Blackfoot Joint Detective Division compiled a lengthy and thorough report, together with multiple discs of photos and audio records.

The following is a summary of pertinent facts in this matter.

On December 22, 2017 at approximately 1930 hours the Pocatello Police Department responded to investigate several hit and run accidents on the east side of Pocatello near the area of Homer Drive. During the investigation it was determined by PPD officers that the vehicle involved in the hit and run was a Ford pickup located at 1540 Homer Drive Pocatello, Idaho. PPD officers responded to the front door of the residence and contacted a female resident of the home. She verified that the owner of the Ford pickup was Mr. McClellan and that he was present and lives at the residence. She then led PPD officers into the residence, down a hallway and into a bedroom to meet with Mr. McClellan about the suspected hit and run accidents involving his vehicle. A PPD officer was also present at the front door of the residence at this time. Two PPD officers identified themselves to Mr. McClellan who was sitting on a bed facing the doorway of the bedroom. Mr. McClellan was holding a black handgun, which was then pointed in the direction of one of the PPD officers, wherein that PPD officer observed Mr. McClellan holding the handgun with the barrel of the gun pointing in the officer's direction. All officers immediately exited the residence. The female exited the residence safely as well at a later time. 

After the officers exited the residence, a perimeter was set up for the safety of officers and the public.

Deputies from the Bannock County Sheriff's Office responded to the area with PPD officers, as well as one Idaho State Police Trooper. 

A trained negotiator with PPD then began communication with Mr. McClellan via cell phone. 

During the negotiation Mr. McClellan went to the backdoor on two different occasions with the handgun in his right hand, at which time a Bannock County Deputy and a PPD officer both gave Mr. McClellan commands. On the second occassion, at approximately 2033 hours, Mr. McClellan exited the residence and walked toward the deputy and the officer. Mr. McClellan had the handgun in his right hand and began to raise the handgun to point the weapon at the law enforcement officers. The barrel of the weapon was pointed in the direction of the Bannock County deputy and the officer, wherein Mr. McClellan was not responding to commands, and he continued to point the barrel of the weapon in the direction of the law enforcement officers. At approximately 2033 hours, the Bannock County deputy fired his duty rifle at Mr. McClellan three times until the threat to him and the other officer was over. Mr. McClellan was pronounced deceased at the scene from the gunshot wounds after lifesaving efforts were given by officers and the ambulance crew. 

"Based on my review of the investigation I have determined that the shooting of Laurence McClellan was a justified use of deadly force necessitated by the threat that he posed to law enforcement and the public. Law enforcement legitimately responded to investigate criminal actions by Laurence McClellan and were confronted by him in a life-threatening manner and acted in the legal defense of themselves, each other, and the public at large when discharging their duty weapon, thus fatally wounding Mr. McClellan," said Bingham County Prosecutor Cleve Colson.