Boise police officers who shot and killed an armed man last summer have been justified in their actions.

Cpl. A. Johnson and Officer G. Miller shot 54-year-old Christian Johnson on Aug. 3, 2023, in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Dale Street and Island Avenue, near Ann Morrison Park and the Boise State University campus. The officers responded to the location to perform a welfare check on Johnson, who “called 911 three times requesting law enforcement assistance,” according to a Boise Police Department news release issued Tuesday. Johnson charged the officers with a knife and verbally threatened the officers before they shot him, according to the corresponding Office of Police Accountability (OPA) report that was issued.

“When Mr. Johnson was approximately 18-20 feet from them, both officers fired their duty handguns at him,” the OPA report states. “They collectively fired a total of 9 rounds striking him each time. Mr. Johnson continued forward and fell to the ground approximately 6-8 feet from the officers.”

Blaine County Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Fredback, in his review of the incident, said, “The officers ordered Christian to drop the weapons twelve separate times to avoid any violence. Christian refused to comply.” Fredback’s report also says that Johnson turned the knife toward himself before charging the officers.

“The loss of Mr. Johnson’s life is extremely unfortunate, and we hope others in crisis can get the help and resources they need to stabilize their lives and behaviors prior to getting to the point where a deadly threat is made to others, including police officers,” Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar said in the city’s release. “I am grateful no bystanders or officers were physically injured in this encounter, but I recognize not all injuries are physical, and there is always a significant impact on officers and others involved, when deadly force is used, regardless of the circumstances.”